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CALIKORNIA    STATE     IVIININO    BUREAU. 

J.  J.  CRATATTORD,  State  Mineralogist. 


BULLETIN    NO.  11. 


San  Francisco,  December,  1896. 


OIL  AND  GAS  YIELDING  FORMATIONS 


OF 


Los   Angeles,  Ventura,  and  Santa 
Barbara  Counties. 


PART     I 


By  W.  L.  watts,  M.  E., 

Field  Assistant. 


A.    J.    JOHNSTON,       : 


SACRAMENTO: 

:      :      :     superintendent  state  printing. 
1897. 


LIBRARY 

iJNlYERSiTY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


LETTI'lR  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


California  State  Mining  Bureau,  ) 

San  Francisco,  December  1,  1896.  \ 

To  Hon.  J.  J.  Crawford,  State  Mineralogist  : 

Dear  Sir:  In  accordance  with  your  instructions  of  September  9, 1894, 
I  have  investigated  such  portions  of  the  oil-yielding  districts  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Coast  Range,  and  south  of  the  Sierra  Madre  range,  as  has 
been  possible  in  the  time  at  command.  I  hope  to  complete  our  investi- 
gations during  the  next  two  years. 

In  this  bulletin  the  following  oil-fields  are  described:  In  Los  Angeles 
County,  the  Los  Angeles  City  and  the  Puente  oil-fields.  In  Ventura 
County,  the  Sespe  district  and  the  oil  districts  north  of  Santa  Paula.  In 
Santa  Barbara,  the  Suramerland  oil-field  and  the  petroleum-yielding 
formations  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county.  I  speak  only  of 
localities  wherein  I  have  obtained  geological  evidence  concerning  the 
relation  of  the  exposed  rocks  to  oil-yielding  strata. 

Some  of  the  streams  and  mountain  peaks  mentioned  in  this  bulletin 
are  not  shown  on  the  Land  Office  maps.  In  such  instances,  the  names 
used  are  those  by  which  such  streams  and  peaks  are  best  known  locally. 
The  facts  stated,  and  deductions  made,  concerning  the  different  localities 
mentioned,  speak  for  the  time  at  which  such  localities  were  visited. 

Allow  me  to  take  this  opportunity  of  returning  thanks  to  the  following 
gentlemen  who  have  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  the  work  which  is 
the  subject  of  this  bulletin:  General  K.  H.  Wade,  G.  W.  Parsons,  E. 
Wright;  County  Surveyor  J.  B.  Hawley,  C.E.;  the  officers  of  the  Los 
Angeles  City  Waterworks;  J.  S.  Maltman,  President,  and  others  of  the 
Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.;  L.  Stewart,  President,  and  others  of  the  Union 
Oil  Co.;  F.  C.  Garbutt;  the  officers  of  the  Los  Angeles  Oil  Exchange; 
Messrs.  Doheny  &  Connon — (all  of  Los  Angeles);  G.  C.  Power,  County 
Surveyor  of  Ventura  County;  A.  S.  Cooper,  C.E.,  of  Santa  Barbara; 
H.  T.  Doulton  and  H.  L.  Williams,  of  Summerland,  Santa  Barbara 
County,  and  many  other  gentlemen  of  Los  Angeles,  Ventura,  and  Santa 
Barbara  counties. 

Yours  respectfully, 

W.  L.  WATTS. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL iii 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS x 


PART  I.— LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY. 

Chaptbr  L    GEOLOGY,  LIST  OF  WELLS,  PRODUCTION,  ETC 1-13 

[The  figures  refer  to  the  paragraphs  under  each  Part  and  Chapter.] 

Output  and  location  of  oil-fields  in  Los  Angeles  County,  1 ;  The 
rocky  formations  at  Los  Angeles  and  vicinity,  their  character  and 
geological  age,  2-4 ;  Exposures  of  oil-yielding  formations,  5 ;  The 
Maltman  and  the  Ruhland  wells,  6 ;  Formation  and  fossils  near  Ruh- 
land  wells,  7 ;  Formations  north  of  the  Ruhland  and  the  Maltman 
wells,  8;  Ivanhoe,  9;  Hills  between  Ivanhoe  and  the  Los  Angeles 
River,  10;  The  Hunter  tract,  11 ;  Formations  between  East  Los  An- 
geles and  Pasadena,  12;  Character  and  age  of  formations  west  of  Los 
Angeles,  13-14;  Temescal  Canon,  15;  Geological  structure  at  Los 
Angeles,  16-17;  History  of  Los  Angeles  oil-field,  18;  Rocks  pene- 
trated by  oil-wells  at  Second-Street  I'ark,  19-20 ;  Sections  across  west 
end  of  oil-field  and  thickness  of  oil-sand,  21-22;  Experiments  by 
T.  B.  Hawley,  C.E.,  on  absorbent  power  of  sand,  23 ;  Approximate  esti- 
mate of  contents  of  oil-sand,  24 ;  Strike  of  oil-line,  outlook  westward, 
25;  The  outlook  to  the  eastward,  26;  Wells  in  East  Los  Angeles,  27; 
The  best  direction  in  which  to  prospect,  28 ;  At  Los  Angeles  the  specific 
gravity  of  the  oil  increases  with  the  depth,  29;  Cost  of  drilling  at  Los 
Angeles,  statement  of  Los  Angeles  City  oil-wells,for  1895,  30. 

II.    PIPE-LINES  AND  TANKAGE 13-14 

Pacific  Oil  Refinery  and  Supply  Co.,  1 ;  Union  Oil  Co.,  2  ;  Daily  yield 
of  Los  Angeles  wells,  1895-96,  3;  Oil  on  hand,  March  to  July,  1896,4; 
Decrease  in  yield,  5;  Gas  at  Los  Angeles,  6;  Tankage,  7. 

III.  ABANDONED  WELLS 14-17 

Why  unsuccessful,  1 ;  Alison  &  Barlow,  2 ;  Angelina  Heights,  3 ; 
Boyle  Heights,  4;  Bryant  &  Co.,  5;  Chance,  6;  Chandler,  7;  Denker, 
8;  Dunkleberger,  9;  Eureka  Oil  Co.,  10;  Fudicker,  II;  Gasson,  12; 
Green  Meadow  ranch,  13;  Hoag  it  Silent,  14;  Johnson,  1.5;  La  Brea 
ranch,  16;  Wells  between  La  Brea  and  La  Cienega,  17;  Lookout 
Mountain,  18;  Mcintosh,  19-20;  Well  near  River  Station,  21 ;  Obar,  22  ; 
Okell  &  Barber,  23;  Oregon  Oil  Co.,  24;  Perkins,  25;  Polhemus,  26; 
Thompson  Bros.,  27 ;  Sisters'  Hospital,  28 ;  Union  Oil  Co.'s,  29 ;  Villa 
Tract  wells,  30;  Wilmot  &  Holden,  31 ;  Wilshire,  32. 

IV.  MISCELLANEOUS  WELLS 17 

Benedict  ranch,  1 ;  Ilellman  ranch,  2 ;  Maier  &  Zobelein,  3 ;  Protestant 
Orphan  Asylum,  4;  Reynolds  &  Wiggins,  5;  Rosencrantz,  6;  United 
States  Hotel,  7. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

Chapter  V.    THE  PUENTE  OIL-WELLS 18-21 

Puente  Hills:  where  situated,  geological  structure,  formation  at  base 
of,  1;  Formations  in  higher  portions  of  Puente  Hills,  2;  Age  of  for- 
mations at  base  of  Puente  Hills,  3;  Points  where  petroleum  is  found, 
4;  Location  of  Puente  wells:  number,  depth,  and  yield,  5;  Structural 
geology  at  Puente  Gulch,  6-7  ;  Table  showing  depth,  life,  etc.,  of  Puente 
wells,  8 ;  New  wells  drilled  by  Puente  Oil  Co.,  gas  at  Puente  wells,  9 ; 
Pipe-lines,  10;  Brea  Canon,  geology  of,  11;  Brea  beds,  12;  Chandler 
wells,  13 ;  Comparison  of  formations  at  Brea  Canon  and  at  Los 
Angeles,  14. 

VI.    DISTRICTSNOT  YET  VISITED— PETROLEUM  STATISTICS 21 

Bluett  &  Mullen  wells,  1 ;  Central  Oil  Co.'s  wells,  2  ;  Pico  oil-wells,  3 ; 
Union  Oil  Co.,  4  ;  Petroleum  statistics  of  Los  Angeles  County  for  the 
year  1895,  5, 

PART  II.— VENTURA  COUNTY. 

I.    GEOLOGY,  DISTRICTS,  WELLS,  ETC 22-38 

The  Sespe  district,  its  position  and  topography,  1-2 ;  Structural  geol- 
ogy of  Sespe  district,  the  Redstone  Peak  anticline,  the  Cold  Water  anti- 
cline, Eocene  rocks,  3-4 ;  More  recent  Tertiary  strata,  anticlines  die 
out,  5-6;  Faults  in  formation,  7-8 ;  Influence  of  faults  on  the  strati- 
graphy and  topography,  formations  north  of  the  Sespe  district,  10; 
Remarks  on  structural  geology  of  Sespe  district  and  vicinity,  11;  The 
most  recent  Tertiary  formations  in  Sespe  district,  12 ;  Dark-colored 
shales  at  Tar  Creek,  their  geological  horizon,  the  uppermost  oil-yield- 
ing formation  in  the  Sespe  district,  13-15  ;  No  marked  non-conformity, 
the  Sespe  brownstone  formation,  building-stone,  Henly  quarry.  Men- 
tone  Brownstone  Co.'s  quarry,  16;  Breadth  of  outcrop,  underlying 
rocks.  Eocene  rocks,  18  ;  Springs  of  warm  water  and  oil,  19 ;  Oil-springs 
in  Eocene  rocks,  20 ;  Agua  Blanca  Creek,  21 ;  Little  Sespe  petroleum 
mining  district,  metes  and  bounds,  22;  Groups  of  wells  in  Little 
Sespe  mining  district,  23;  Wells  at  Tar  Creek,  24;  Wells  at  Four 
Forks,  25;  The  Brownstone  (Los  Angeles)  group  of  wells,  26-27; 
Kentuck  wells,  28-29;  Well  of  the  California  Oil  Co.,  strata  pene- 
trated, yield,  etc.,  30-31;  The  Devil's  Gate  oil  and  brownstone  min- 
ing district,  metes  and  bounds,  geological  formations  in,  32;  Oil 
districts  northwest  of  Santa  Paula,  oil-wells  and  oil-tunnels,  topog- 
raphy, 33;  Structure  of  mountains  northwest  of  the  Silverthread  oil- 
wells,  west  extension  of  Cold  Water  anticline.  Eocene  formations  of 
Mount  Cayetana,  position  of  the  Silverthread  oil-wells,  34  and  35 ;  Ter- 
tiary formations  south  of  the  Silverthread  oil-wells,  oil-wells  south  of 
the  Sulphur  Mountains,  36  ;  The  Jones  (O'Hara)  wells,  structure  of  east 
end  of  Sulphur  Mountains,  37;  Geological  structure  of  oil  districts 
northwest  of  Santa  Paula,  valleys  frequently  coincide  with  axes  of  anti- 
clines, solfataric  action,  38;  Relative  position  of  oil-wells  and  oil-tun- 
nels, strike  of  the  formation,  cross-section  showing  stratigraphy  through 
oil  districts  northwest  of  Santa  Paula,  Eocene  formations,  39-40;  Oligo- 
cene  formations,  41;  Bleached  shales,  42;  Line  showing  solfataric 
action,  43;  Formation  on  southwest  slope  of  Mount  Cayetana,  solfataric 
line  marks  a  fissure  or  fault,  position  of  productive  wells  and  tunnels 
south  of  Sulphur  Mountains,  wells  on  Sulphur  ^fountains,  44;  Dark- 
colored  shales  on  north  slope  of  Sulphur  Mountains,  evidence  of  faults 
in  Sisar  Valley,  45;  Rocks  penetrated  by  wells  on  south  side  of  Sul- 
phur Mountains,  position  of  wells  with  regard  to  axis  of  fold,  46;  Tun-  • 
nels  showing  bleaching  to  be  Superficial,  fossils  from  tunnels,  47;  Forma- 
tions exposed  on  Santa  Paula  Creek  and  south  of  Mount  Cayetana,  48; 


CONTENTS.  Vll 

Page. 
Chaptbr  I,    Part  II — Continued. 

The  Silverthread  oil  district,  49;  Oil-springs  north  of  Sisar  Creek, 
Eocene  fossils  north  of  Silvertliread  wells,  formation  at  Silverthread 
wells  probabl^y  Oligoceiie,  rock  exposures  unsatisfactory,  50 ;  Faults  in 
Silverthread  district,  deductions  hazardous,  51 ;  Bard  wells,  table  show- 
ing life  and  yield  of  wells,  52;  Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.'s  wells,  strata 
penetrated,  53 ;  Union  oil  Co.'s  wells,  three  kinds  of  oil,  5-1 ;  Oil-wells 
south  of  Sulphur  Mountains,  55  ;  Adams  Canon  wells,  56 ;  Aliso  Canon 
wells,  57;  Salt  Marsh  Cafion  wells,  58;  Scott  ct  Cilniore  wells,  59; 
Wheeler  Canon  wells,  gas  yielded  by  wells  northwest  of  Santa  Paula, 
•  60;  Jones  (O'Hara)  wells,  61 ;  Records  of  Jones  wells,  62;  Formations 
east  of  Jones  wells,  63 ;  (irayham  well,  61 ;  Total  yield  of  oil-wells  north- 
west of  Santa  Paula,  70. 

II.    OIL-TUNNELS — .  ._ 39-45 

Rocks  penetrated  by  productive  oil-tunuels,  1 ;  Oil-yielding  strata, 
character  of,  oil  and  water,  gas,  method  of  illumination,  cost  of  tunnel, 
method  of  collecting  oil,  2;  Pinkerton  tunnel,  3;  Pinkerton  middle 
tunnel,  4;  Jefferson  tunnel,  5;  Tunnel  northwest  of  Jefferson  tunnel, 
6;  Orne  tunnel,  7 ;  Adams  (old)  tunnel,  8;  Tunnel  northeast  of  Orne 
tunnel,  9 ;  Good  &  Irwin  tunnel,  10 ;  Good  lower  tunnel,  11 ;  Good  mid- 
dle tunnel,  12;  Good  upper  tunnel,  13;  Portion  of  the  Magie  and  the 
Farrell  &  Kimball  tunnels,  14  ;  Magie  tunnel  No.  6,  strata  penetrated, 
fossils,  15;  Magie  tunnel  Xo.  3,  16;  Magie  tunnel  No.  1,  17;  Magie  tun- 
nel No.  4,  18;  Solfataric  action,  formation  north  of  Magie  tunnels,  19; 
Farrel  &  Kimball  west  tunnel,  formation  penetrated,  20  ;  Formation  at 
end  of  tuiinel,  21 ;  Fossils  from  Magie  and  Farrell  &  Kimball  tunnels, 
22;  Water-blast  for  ventilating  tunnels,  23;  Tunnels  in  middle  fork  of 
Salt  Marsh  Cailon,  24  ;  Adams  Canon  tunnel,  25  ;  Major  Moultre  tun- 
nel, formation  penetrated,  26 ;  Wheeler  Canon  tunnel,  27 ;  Parker  & 
Orne  tunnel,  28 ;  Yield  of  oil-tunnels  northwest  of  Santa  Paula,  grand 
total  from  wells  and  tunnels,  29. 

III.  GENERAL  REMARKS  ON  OIL-FIELDS  OF  VENTURA  COUNTY. 45-47 
Yield  of  parallel  tunnels  penetrating  similar  strata  frequently  dis- 
similar, under  some  conditions  similar  oil  obtained,  principal  source  of 
oil  crevices  in  the  rocks,  1;  Some  wells  close  together,  yet  yield  dis- 
similar, some  reasons  suggested,  rocks  penetrated  by  productive  wells 
northwest  of  Santa  Paula  are  of  similar  geologic  horizon  to  the  rocks 
j)enetrated  by  the  welJs  at  Tar  Creek,  Four  Forks,  Brownstone,  and 
Kentuck,  2  ;  Oil  districts  in  Ventura  County  yet  to  be  investigated,  3; 
Bardsdale  wells,  4;  Eureka  Oil  Co.'s,  5;  Fortuna  wells,  6;  Torrey 
Canon  wells,  7 ;  Petroleum  produced  in  Ventura  County  during  1895, 
8 ;  Union  Oil  Co.'s  pipe-lines,  9. 


PART  III. 

GEOLOGICAL  FORMATIONS  AND  PETROLEUM  INDUSTRY 
IN  PORTIONS  OF  VENTURA  AND  SANTA  BARBARA 

COUNTIES ..48-57 

Extent  of  bleached  Miocene  shales,  Brea  Canon  (Weldon)  asphalt 
mine,  1;  Formations  exposed  along  the  Ventura  River  between  Canada 
del  Laga  and  Ventura,  Ventura  Asphaltum  Co.'s  mine,  2;  Solfataric 
action  near  Rincon  Creek,  remarkable  chemical  action  described  by 
A.  S.  Cooper,  C.E.,  3;'  Character  of  shale  near  Carpinteria,  4;  Fissures  in 
shales  tilled  with  bitumen,  shales  interstratified  with  bituminous  sand, 5; 
Late  Pliocene  or  Quaternary  formation,  6;  Eocene  formations  in  Santa 
Ynez  Mountains,  7;  Bituminous  deposits  in  Santa  Barbara  County, 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

Page. 
Chapter  I,    Part  III— Continued. 

I'unta  Gorda  asphalt  mine,  analysis  of  asphalt  from,  8  ;  Rincon  asphal- 
tum  mine,  9;  Character  of  deposit,  10;  Bituminous  sand  near  mouth 
of  Rincon  Creek,  11;  Las  Conchas  mine  and  asphaltum  works,  descrip- 
tion of  plant,  12;  Geological  formations  at  Cari)iiiteria,  artesian  area, 
oil  in  alluvial  formations,  13;  The  Summerland  oil-field,  geology  of, 
extent  of  oil-field,  14;  Alameda  and  Santa  Barbara  Development  Co.'s 
wells,  15;  Backus  (t  Craven  wells,  16;  Cole's  wells,  17;  Dewlaney's 
wells,  18;  Doulton  &  Wilson  wells,  19;  Fischer  wells,  20;  Forrester  & 
Treadwell  wells,  21;  Loomis  wells,  22;  Moore  wells,  23;  Stevens  ife 
Roberts  wells,  24;  Williams  wells,  25;  General  character  of  formation 
penetrated  at  Summerland,  26  ;  The  sand-box,  27  ;  Gas-wells  at  Sum- 
merland, 28;  The  Cone  wells,  29;  The  Darling  Bros,  gas  wells,  30; 
Oil-wells  near  Summerland,  the  Occidental  oil-wells,  31 ;  Santa  Monica 
Oil  Co.'s  wells,  32;  Statistical  report  of  Summerland  oil-wells  for  1895, 
33;  Geological  horizon  of  petroleum-yielding  formations  in  the  por- 
tions of  Santa  Barbara  County  which  are  described,  34. 

II.    SUMMARY 57-60 

Object  of  this  bulletin,  1;  Further  investigation  needed,  deductions 
from  evidence  obtained,  2 ;  Geological  horizon  of  oil-yielding  forma- 
tions at  Los  Angeles,  3;  At  Puente,  4 ;  Upper  oil-yielding  formation 
in  Sespe  and  Silverthread  districts,  5;  Lower  oil-yielding  formation 
in  Sespe  and  westward  therefrom,  6;  The  Santa  Monica  and  Occi- 
dental oil-wells,  7;  Geological  horizon  of  Summerland  oil-field  unde- 
termined, 8 ;  Table  showing  oil-fields  visited  and  the  geological  horizon 
to  which  they  may  be  referred,  9;  Petroleum  deposits  classified,  10; 
Primary  deposits,  11;  Secondary  deposits,  12;  Evidence  of  primary 
deposits,  13;  Oligocene  deposits  probably  primary,  14;  As  yet  insuffi- 
cient evidence  to  determine  whether  Los  Angeles,  Puente,  and  Sum- 
merland deposits  are  primary  or  secondary,  15;  Secondary  deposits  in 
Santa  Barbara  County,  16 ;  Review  of  structural  conditions  of  deposits 
named,  17;  At  Los  Angeles,  18;  At  Puente,  in  the  Sespe  district,  19; 
At  Sulphur  Mountains,  O'Hara  oil-wells  and  Silverthread  district, 
20;  Prevailing  structure  compresses  anticlinal  folds,  21;  No  attempt 
to  force  conclusions,  hence  few  deductions,  22;  More  time  necessary 
to  complete  the  investigation  of  the  California  oil-fields,  23. 

PART  IV.— MISCELLANEOUS. 

I.    REFINERIES  IN  LOS  ANGELES  AND  VENTURA  COUNTIES-..    61 
Asphaltum  and  Oil  Refining  Co.,   1;   Clark,  Johns  &  Co.,  2;   Oil- 
Burning  Supply  Co.,  3;  Puente  Oil  Co.'s  refinery,  4  ;  Union  Oil  Co.,  5. 

11.    DRILLING  MACHINERY  USED  IN  LOS  ANGELES 61-63 

Drilling  machinery  used  in  Los  Angeles,  1 ;  The  St.  Louis  rig,  2  ;  The 
Star  rig,  3;  The  Standard  rig,  4;  Cost  of  drilling  at  Los  Angeles,  5; 
I>iameter  of  casings  used,  6;  Cost  of  casings,  7;  Price  of  labor  during 
1895,8;  Pumps,  9;  Allen's  patent  pumping  rig,  10;  Fuel  used  at  Los 
Angeles  oil-field,  11. 

III.    OIL  AS  FUEL  AT  LOS  ANGELES.... 63-G6 

Comparative  tests,  coal  versus  oil  on  the  Southern  California  Rail- 
way, 1;  Gravity  of  oil  used  and  cost  per  mile  of  travel,  2;  Further 
comparisons  as  to  relative  value  of  coal  and  oil,  description  of  burners, 
tests  by  the  Los  Angeles  Electric  R.  R.  Co.,  tests  by  the  Los  Angeles 
Steel  and  Iron  Co.,  3 ;  Tests  at  the  court-house  at  Los  Angeles,  4 ;  Tests 
by  the  Los  Angeles  Pressed  Brick  and  Terra  Cotta  Co.,  5  ;  Tests  by  the 
California  Sewer  Pipe  Co.,  6 ;  Comparison  of  tests,  7  ;  Calorimetric  tests 


CONTENTS.  IX 

Page. 
Chapter  III,  Part  IV— Continued. 

made  in  the  laboratory  of  the  California  State  Mining  Bureau  on  oils 
of  different  specific  gravities,  8;  Laboratory  tests  compared  to  i)racti- 
cal  use,  9 ;  Table  showing  relative  fuel  value  by  laboratory  experiment 
and  practical  working  on  the  railroad,  10;  One  pound  of  oil  compared 
to  one  pound  of  oil,  11 ;  Probable  reason  why  practical  working  on  the 
railroad  gave  somewhat  higher  results,  12;  Calorimetric  experiments 
on  coal  and  oil  by  Prof.  Stillman  in  the  laboratory  of  the  S.  P.  II.  K.,  13. 

IV.     FRACTIOXAL  DISTILLATIONS 67-72 

Table  of  fractional  distillations,  1;  Table  of,  by  W.  D.  Johnston,  2; 
lieview  of  tables,  3;  Distillations  at  temperatures  above  350°  C,  4 ; 
Remarks  on  distillations  at  temperatures  above  350°  C,  5. 

RESUME  OP  ORIGINAL  RESEARCHES,  ANALYSES,  AND  REFINING 
METHODS  OF  PETROLEUM,  MAINLY  FROM  THE  SOUTHERN  COUNTIES 
OF  CALIFORNIA.    By  Frederick  Salath^,  Ph.D. 

Origin  and  elementary  analysis  of  petroleum 73 

Chemical  constitution  and  hydrocarbon   series   of  Ventura  and  Los 

Angeles  County  crude  oils 74-75 

Fractional   distillations    and  yields  of  various    Southern   California 

crude  oils 76 

Fresno  County  crude  oil,  from  Coalinga 77 

Diagram  showing  products  of  distillation  and  redistillation 78 

TABLE  OF  FOSSILS.    Identified  by  Dr.  J.G.Cooper 79-87 

ATLAS  OF  SKETCH  MAPS  AND  CROSS-SECTIONS. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 
Fig.  1.    Oil-wells  at  Second-Street  Park,  Los  Angeles ...Frontispiece 

2.  Contorted  strata,  Temescal  Canon 5 

3.  Puente  oil-wells. 5 

4.  Geological  section  of  Los  Angeles  oil-wells 7 

5.  Geological  section  of  Los  Angeles  oil-wells 7 

6.  Mount  Cayetana  and  Santa  Paula  Canon 22 

7.  Valley  of  Santa  Clara  River,  Sulphur  Mountains,  etc 22 

8.  Cross-section  through  Devil's  Gate  Mining  District 22 

9.  Slaty  shale.  Sulphur  Mountains 25 

10.  Dark-colored  shale,  Tar  Creek 25 

11.  Oil-wells  penetrating  dark-colored  shale,  at  Tar  Creek 26 

12.  Seepages  of  heav3'oil  from  iissures  in  sandstone. 26 

13.  Cross-section,  Redstone  Peak  to  Agua  Blanca  Creek 26 

14.  Sespe  brownstone 33 

15.  South  slope  of  Sulphur  Mountains 33 

16.  Oil-spring,  Sisar  Valley 35 

17.  Stream  of  maltha,  Sisar  Valley 35 

18.  Oil-tunnels:  Good,  Pinkerton,  etc 40 

19.  Formations  penetrated  by  the  Pinkerton  tunnels 40 

20.  Oil-tunnels:  Magie,  Farrell,  etc 42 

21.  Water-blast  and  reflector  at  the  Magie  tunnel 44 

22.  Las  Conchas  Mine,  Santa  Barbara  County 44 

23.  Water-blast  at  the  Magie  tunnels 44 

24.  Alcatraz  asphaltum  relinery  at  Carpinteria 51 

25.  Mount  Cayetana  from  Sespe  Canon 51 

26.  The  St.  Louis  rig 61 

27.  TheStarrig 61 

28.  The  Standard  rig 61 

29.  Allen's  patent  pumping  rig 63 

30.  Geological  sketch  map,  Los  Angeles  and  vicinity In  Atlas 

31.  Geological  sketch  map.  West  Los  Angeles.. In  Atlas 

32.  Geological  sketch  map,  Puente  Oil  District In  Atlas 

33.  Geological  sketch  map,  Ventura  County  Oil  District In  Atlas 

34.  Cross-section,  Mupu  school-house  to  Echo  Cafion  Peak In  Atlas 

35.  Geological  sketch  map,  about  Summerland,  Santa  Barbara  County.. .In  Atlas 


THE  OIL  AND  GAS  YIELDING  FORxAIATlONS 


OF 


Los  Angeles,  Ventura,  and  Santa  Barbara  Counties. 


By  W.  I..  WATTS,  Field  Assistant. 


LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Geology,  List  of  Wells,  Production,  Etc. 

1.1.01.*  The  most  important  mining  operations  in  Los  Angeles 
County  are  connected  with  petroleum;  the  total  output  for  1895  was 
979,695  bbls.,  and  the  price  realized  was  $732,817.  The  oil-fields  which 
contributed  to  this  total  are  situated  at  Los  Angeles,  in  the  Puente 
Hills,  and  in  the  mountains  to  the  south  and  west  of  Newhall.  They 
are  known,  respectively,  as  the  Los  Angeles,  the  Puente,  and  the  Pico 
oil-wells. 

1.1.02.  The  rocky  formations  at  Los  Angeles  and  its  immediate  vicin- 
ity consist  of  sedimentary  strata,  except  a  little  decomposed  granite 
rock,  which  is  said  to  have  been  struck  by  the  Los  Angeles  Water  Co., 
when  excavations  were  made  for  a  reservoir  at  Ivanhoe.  Beneath  the 
surface  soil  of  Los  Angeles  the  most  recent  formations  consist  of  sand 
drift  and  conglomerate,  as  may  be  seen  in  cuttings  near  the  Sand  Street 
school,  on  Brooklyn  Avenue,  and  at  other  places. 

1.1.03.  These  recent  strata  are  practically  horizontal,  and  rest  non- 
conformably  on  formations  of  Pliocene  age,  which  in  most  parts  of 
the  city  are  inclined  at  an  angle  of  more  than  20°.  A  large  portion 
of  these  Pliocene  formations  consists  of  thin-bedded  sandstones,  sandy 
clays,  and  shales.  This  formation  can  be  recognized  in  many  of  the 
street-cuttings  by  a  yellow  color,  imparted  to  it,  in  most  instances,  by  a 
sandy  clay  which  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  brick.  There  is  also  a 
soft,  white,  diatomaceous  rock  which  belongs  to  this  formation;  it  gen- 

*The  numbers  at  the  beginning  of  the  paragraphs  are  so  arranged  that  the  first 
figure  denotes  the  Pitrt,  the  next  the  Chnpter,  and  tlie  last  two  the  Paragraph.  Thus, 
1.2.15  means  the  I5th  Paragraph  of  Chapter  II  of  Tart  I. 


2  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

erally  shows  a  calcareous  reaction,  and  in  some  places  it  is  mixed  or 
interstratified  with  sand  or  clay.  A  few  thin  strata  of  this  rock  can  be 
seen  in  a  cutting  about  300'  west  of  Fifth  and  Main  streets.  It  is 
noticeable  among  sandy  and  clayey  strata  on  Orange,  near  Alvarado 
Street,  and  in  a  ravine  a  short  distance  south  of  the  old  Dryden  well. 
In  a  cutting  on  First  and  Olive  streets,  there  is  a  rock  which  appears  to 
be  of  a  similar  composition.  At  the  first  two  places  the  rock  is  calca- 
reous, but  at  the  last  two  it  is  not.  The  yellowish  formation  is  also 
found  on  the  east  side  of  the  Los  Angeles  River,  and  patches  of  what 
appears  to  be  a  similar  formation  can  be  seen  on  the  hills  to  the  north 
of  the  city. 

1.1.04.  In  the  Farmdale  school  district,  a  formation  very  similar  to 
the  soft  white  rock  already  described,  but  possessing  a  distinctly  shaly 
structure,  is  found,  and  in  some  places  it  appears  to  contain  the  impres- 
sion of  plants.  Fossils  were  obtained  from  the  sandy  and  clayey  for- 
mation in  the  Normal  School  grounds  at  Los  Angeles,  and  specimens 
from  a  similar  forjnation  at  the  Shatto  estate  on  Orange,  near  Whitmer 
Street,  were  collected  by  Mr.  W.  Whitney  and  presented  by  him  to  the 
State  Mining  Bureau.  Other  specimens  have  also  been  loaned  the 
Bureau  by  Mr.  F.  Forrester,  which  were  collected  by  him  at  the  follow- 
ing places:  the  Normal  School  grounds,  the  Shatto  estate,  and  from  a 
cutting  on  Sixth  near  Sumner  Street.  These  specimens  show  that  the 
rocks  which  held  them  are  of  the  Pliocene  age.  (See  table  of  fossils  at 
end  of  this  bulletin.) 

1.1.05.  It  is  the  yellowish  sandy  and  clayey  formation  which  is 
penetrated  by  the  numer(>us  oil-wells  at  Second-Street  Park,  although  it 
is  possible  that  the  deepest  wells  there  may  have  gone  through  into 
older  rocks.  There  are  three  places  where  glimpses  may  be  had  of  the 
strata  probably  underlying  the  yellowish  sandy  and  clayey  formation: 

(a)  On  First  Street,  near  Rosemont  Avenue,  where  there  is  an  out- 
crop of  oil-yielding  shale,  which  shows  a  very  slight  dip  to  the  north; 

(6)  Near  the  Dryden  old  well,  where  thick  strata  of  sandstone  dip 
S.  20'^  W.  at  an  angle  of  45°;  about  300'  south  of  this  sandstone  thin 
strata  of  soft,  clayey  sandstone  and  shale  are  found  dipping  S.  20°  W. 
at  an  angle  of  about  30°.  The  Dryden  old  Avell  was  sunk  many  years 
ago.  It  now  shows  a  pit  full  of  heavy  oil  with  gas  bubbling  through  it. 
It  is  said  that  formerly  there  was  a  large  deposit  of  brea  around  this 
well,  but  that  nearly  all  has  been  carried  away  for  fuel; 

(c)  Along  the  creek  which  flows  through  the  Maltman  tract,  where 
there  are,  at  intervals,  the  following  rock  exposures:  First,  yellow  clayey 
and  sandy  formations  which  dip  S.  39°  W.  at  an  angle  of  24°.  A  short 
distance  farther  northeast  there  is  a  soft,  whitish,  calcareous  shale  and 
clayey  and  sandy  formation  which  dips  S.  24°  W.  at  an  angle  of  25°. 
Still  farther  north  a  light-brown  bituminous  sandstone  crops  out;  dip 
S.  20°  W.  at  an  angle  of  about  20°.  Still  farther  north  there  is  a  sandy 
bituminous  shale  dipping  S.  32°  W.  at  an  angle  of  about  20°.  The 
foregoing  appears  to  be  the  order  of  their  downward  vertical  range. 

1.1.06.  The  Maltman  wells  are  situated  in  the  sandy  bituminous 
shales.  There  are  nine  of  them,  and  they  vary  from  140'  to  285'  in 
depth.  They  are  all  within  a  radius  of  about  300'  and  range  irregularly 
along  a  line  running  S.  7°  W.  The  strata  penetrated  consist  of  sandy 
shale  and  oil-soaked  sand,  with  a  few  thin  strata  of  harder  rock.  One 
well  is  16",  and  the  rest  are  7"  and  8"  in  diameter.     There  is  a  slight 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS   ANGELES   COUNTY.  6 

flow  of  oil  from  one  of  them,  and  from  another  a  small  stream  of  water 
flows,  which  is  accompanied  by  a  light  oil.  Several  of  the  wells  yield  a 
little  gas.  One  of  these  wells  was  dc^  for  the  tirst  60'  of  its  depth,  and 
among  the  material  thrown  out  are  numerous  fragments  of  thin  calcare- 
ous shale,  similar  to  that  seen  beneath  the  yellow  clayey  sandstone  on 
First  Street  near  Rosemont  Avenue.  By  pumping  the  Maltman  wells 
they  can  be  made  to  yield  very  nearly  2  bbls.  of  oil  apiece,  dail3\  At 
these  wells  there  is  a  deposit  of  brea,  and  heavy  oil  exudes  from  shallow 
excavations  therein.  One  excavation  shows  brea  interstratified  with 
alluvium  to  about  16'  in  depth,  the  brea  aggregating  about  6'  in  thick- 
ness. This  brea  is  used  for  fuel  to  a  limited  extent,  and  is  sold  at  the 
rate  of  $1  50  to  $2  00  a  ton  on  the  dump.  The  Ruhland  wells  are 
about  half  a  mile  west  of  Westlake  Park.  There  are  twelve  of  these 
wells,  which  vary  from  40'  to  100'  in  depth.  They  are  7"  wells,  and 
are  said  to  have  yielded,  all  told,  about  4  bbls.  of  oil  daily  by  bailing. 

1.1.07.  The  formation  exposed  near  the  Ruhland  wells  is  a  sandy 
shale,  which  dips  S.  22°  W.  at  an  angle  of  65°;  and  in  some  places  it  is 
nearlv  vertical  and  faulted.  There  is  much  brea  around  the  wells.  A 
short  distance  northeast  from  the  Ruhland  wells  there  is  another 
exposure  of  sandy  bituminous  shales,  with  what  appears  to  be  a  thin 
remnant  of  a  sandy,  fofesiliferous  formation  resting  unconformably 
on  them.  jNIoreover,  the  sandy  shale  is  pierced  by  boring,  shells  show- 
ing that  it  must  have  been  an  ocean-bed  at  the  time  of  the  deposition  of 
the  overlying  rocks.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that,  although  these 
shales  are  much  disturbed,  the  prevailing  direction  toward  which  they 
dip  corresponds  to  the  direction  of  the  prevailing  dip  of  Pliocene  strata 
which  are  exposed  farther  to  the  eastward;  and  the  only  marked 
nonconformity  observed  elsewhere  in  West  Los  Angeles  is  between 
Pliocene  and  much  more  recent  formations.  The  fossils  obtained  from 
the  sandy  formation  previously  mentioned  were  in  rather  a  poor  state 
of  preservation;  one  of  them  was  found  to  be  a  well-marked  Pliocene 
form,  and  the  others  ranged  from  living  to  Pliocene.  All  the  fossils 
obtained  in  West  Los  Angeles  appear  to  belong  to  the  same  geological 
horizon,  namely,  the  Pliocene.     Their  vertical  range  is: 

Living,  Quaternary _ 5 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene.. 12 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene,  Miocene 13 

Quaternary.-- 1 

Quaternary,  Pliocene -. 3 

Pliocene  - - - 5 

1.1.08.  At  the  point  northeast  of  the  Ruhland  wells,  where  the  fossils 
were  obtained,  there  is  another  bed  of  brea  through  which  a  well  has 
been  sunk,  which  is  full  of  heavy  oil.  Toward  the  hills  which  lie  to  the 
north  of  the  Maltman  tract,  for  more  than  a  mile,  the  rock  exposures 
are  poor,  and  are  few  and  far  between;  but  here  and  there  yellow  clayey 
sandstones  are  seen,  and  at  one  place  there  is  a  hard  micaceous  sand- 
stone, and  at  another  a  soft  bituminous  sandstone  crops  out.  At  the 
only  point  where  observations  on  the  dip  could  be  made,  it  was  found 
to  be  less  than  10°.  There  is  also  a  seepage  of  heavy  oil  about  half  a 
mile  northeast  of  the  Maltman  wells. 

1.1.09.  At  Ivanhoe,  the  rock  exposures  are  poor,  but  some  strata  are 
found  dipping  in  a  northeasterly  direction.  The  formation  is  sandstone, 
interstratified  in  places  withcalcareo-silicious  rock.  The  higher  portion 
of  the  hills  which  extend  from  Ivanhoe  to  the  Los  Angeles  River  is  com- 


4  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

posed,  for  the  most  part,  of  older  and  harder  rocks  than  those  previously 
mentioned;  although  there  are  patches  of  the  yellow  sandy  formation 
before  referred  to.  The  most  characteristic  rock  is  a  hard,  white  cal- 
careous shale,  passing  into  fissile  limestone.  This  rock  can  be  traced 
from  Ivanhoe  to  Lookout  Mountain,  in  Elysian  Park. 

1.1.10.  Throughout  the  northern  summits  of  these  hills  the  forma- 
tion is  mainly  sandstone,  with  hard  strata  of  calcareous  rock,  and  the 
prevailing  dip  is  still  southwest,  in  most  places  at  an  angle  of  more  than 
40''^.  This  sandstone  formation  is  of  great  thickness,  as  may  be  seen  by 
walking  from  the  Buena  Vista  bridge  along  the  flume  of  the  Los  Angeles 
Water  Co.  This  flume  runs  at  an  angle  of  about  45*^  to  the  direction  of 
the  prevailing  dip  of  the  formation,  which  is  S.  20°  W,  at  an  angle  of 
from  30°  to  50°.  The  calcareous  rocks  here  referred  to  contain  the 
remains  of  fish,  but  no  specimens  were  found  which  were  perfect  enough 
for  identification;  nor  were  any  fossils  obtained  by  which  the  geological 
horizon  of  these  older  and  harder  rocks  might  be  determined. 

1.1.11.  In  the  Hunter  tract,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Los  Angeles 
River,  the  physical  appearance  of  the  exposed  rocks  resembles  that  of 
the  rocks  at  Ivanhoe  and  some  portions  of  Elysian  Park.  Especially 
is  this  the  case  with  regard  to  the  hard  calcareous  rocks  previously 
described.  On  the  Clark  estate,  in  the  Hunter  tract,  there  are  dark- 
colored  shales  containing  Pccten  pedroanus,  Trask;  P.  peckhaml,  Gabb — 
Pliocene,  Miocene. 

1.1.12.  On  the  east  side  of  the  Los  Angeles  River,  both  in  the  city 
itself  and  thence  toward  Pasadena,  the  formation  is  much  more  broken 
than  it  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  There  are  no  producing  wells 
east  of  the  Los  Angeles  River  in  the  territory  shown  in  the  accompany- 
ing sketch  map,  Fig.  30. 

1.1.13.  West  of  Los  Angeles  a  thick  deposit  of  alluvium  covers  the 
valley  lands  and  the  foothills  of  the  Cahuenga  range  of  mountains. 
The  rocks  forming  the  axis  of  this  range  are  granitic.  The  sedimentary 
rocks  which  overlie  the  granite  are  principally  sandstones,  from  which 
a  few  Miocene  and  Pliocene  fossils  were  obtained,  notably  in  Brown's 
Cafion.  In  Hay's  Canon,  west  of  Cahuenga  Pass,  the  sedimentary 
rocks  show  metamorphism  and  contain  a  few  fossils  which  are  referred 
to  the  Eocene  period  by  Dr.  Cooper.  The  rocks  exposed  along  the  shore- 
line west  of  Santa  Monica  are  similar  in  appearance,  and  probably 
belong  to  the  same  geological  horizon  as  the  rocks  exposed  at  Los 
Angeles.  The  most  recent  formation  consists  of  nearly  horizontal  strata 
of  conglomerate  and  soft  sandstone,  which  rest  nonconformably  on 
more  compact  conglomerate  and  sandstone.  East  of  the  pier  the  more 
compact  sandstones  are  traversed  by  calcareous  strata  containing  fossils 
which  show  the  following  range: 

Living,  Quaternary...   - 2 

Living,  (Quaternary,  Pliocene .-.  - 3 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene,  Miocene 1 

Quaternary,  Pliocene - 1 

Pliocene 1 

Pliocene,  Miocene --  1 

Miocene - • 1 

1.1.14.  These  sandy  formations  rest  apparently  somewhat  non- 
conformably on  shaly  strata,  which  are  much  crushed,  and  in  some 
places  are  composed  of  thin-bedded  strata,  which  show  a  rapid  transi- 
tion from  brown  to  white  or  light-colored  material.     Farther  west,  and 


•^-V. 


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:^ 


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^: 


Fig.  2.    Contorted  Strata  in  Temescal  CaJJon,  N.W.  of  Santa  Monica. 


t 


.-■sUf' 


i-. 


Fig.  3.    Puentk  Oil-Wells,  Los  Angeles  County,  Looking  West, 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS   ANGELES    COUNTY.  5 

evidently  belonging  to  the  same  geological  horizon,  are  soft,  thin-bedded 
micaceous  sandstones  and  sandy  shales,  interstratified  with  what  appears 
to  be  infusorial  earth.  This  formation  is  much  crushed,  and  bleaches 
on  exposure.     The  prevailing  dip  is  N.  25°  E. 

1.1.15.  At  tlie  mouth  of  Temcscal  Canon,  the  bluffs  are  formed  of  the 
last  two  formations  described;  these  are  interstratified  with  flinty  lime- 
stones. There  is  much  contortion  of  strata,  but  the  prevailing  dip  is 
N.  25°  E.  Resting  conformably  on  these  rocks  is  a  coarse  sandstone 
formed  of  granitic  material  and  containing  Pliocene  fossils.  In  Temescal 
Canon  there  are  many  rock  exposures  showing  curiously  contorted  strata 
as  in  Fig.  2.  In  this  canon,  Mr.  C.  H.  Lenton  has  run  three  tunnels  on 
strata  of  shale  containing  bituminous  matter. 

1.1.16.  At  Los  Angeles  the  rocky  formations  constitute  a  portion  of 
the  southern  slope  of  an  anticlinal  fold,  which  appears  to  extend  east- 
ward from  the  Cahuenga  Mountains.  The  axis  of  this  fold,  although 
ill-defined,  can  be  found  a  short  distance  north  of  Elysian  Park.  The 
prevailing  dip  of  the  strata  forming  the  southern  slope  of  this  anticline 
is  a  little  west  of  south,  modifiecPby  subordinate  folds  or  flexures,  which 
in  some  places  have  locally  inclined  the  strata  in  an  opposite  direction. 
There  are  two  such  flexures:  one  to  the  north  and  the  other  to  the  south 
of  the  oil-Avells  at  Second-Street  Park.  Owing  to  the  alluvium  covering 
the  rocks,  only  glimpses  of  these  lines  of  disturbance  can  be  obtained, 
but  a  careful  study  of  them  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  they  can  be 
traced  as  follows: 

1.1.17.  The  most  important  line  of  disturbance  can  be  traced  with  a 
course  S.  55°  E.  from  the  corner  of  Vermont  and  First  streets  to  a  point 
a  little  south  of  First  and  Glassel  streets;  thence  to  a  point  on  Quebec 
near  Ocean  View  Avenue;  and  thence  to  another  point  about  300'  north 
of  Fourth  and  Bixel  streets.  The  other  line  of  disturbance  can  be 
observed  on  Burlington  near  Temple  Street.  It  can  be  traced  to  Temple 
Street  near  Lake  Shore  Avenue,  and  probably  the  disturbance  of  the 
formation  near  Bellevue  and  Victor  streets  is  associated  with  it.  A 
little  disturbance  can  be  noticed  in  the  middle  of  the  oil-field  on  Court, 
near  Toluca  Street. 

1.1.18.  The  history  of  the  Los  Angeles  oil-wells,  or  more  properly 
speaking,  of  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field  at  Los  Angeles,  is  as  fol- 
lows: For  many  years  a  small  deposit  of  brea  was  known  to  exist  on 
West  State  Street  near  Douglas  Street,  in  the  City  of  Los  Angeles;  and 
the  brea  was  locally  used  for  fuel.  In  1892,  Messrs.  Doheny  &  Connon 
sunk  a  4'x6'  shaft,  155'  deep,  at  the  corner  of  Patton  and  State  streets, 
close  to  the  deposit  of  brea  previously  mentioned.  The  formation  pene- 
trated is  sandy  shale  with  a  few  thin  strata  of  silicious  or  calcareous  rock. 
Near  the  surface  the  oil  was  very  heavy,  but  at  about  7'  deep  it  was 
found  to  be  lighter,  and  it  seeped  from  the  sides  of  the  shaft.  The  oil 
exuded  from  porous  material  and  from  the  surface  planes  of  the  hard 
strata.  The  formation  was  found  to  dip  toward  the  south  at  an  angle 
of  about  40°.  Excavation  below  a  depth  of  155'  was  prevented  by  gas. 
An  18"  hole  was  then  drilled  in  the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  and  yielded 
7  bbls.  of  oil  daily  for  several  weeks.  In  July,  1894,  the  yield  had 
decreased  to  2  bbls.  of  oil  a  day.  In  November,  1892,  an  oil-well  was 
sunk  at  Second-Street  Park  by  Messrs.  Doheny  &  Connon.  As  soon  as 
this  well  was  found  to  be  a  success,  other  wells  were  sunk  on  adjacent 
lots,  and  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field  grew  rapidly.     By  the  end  of 


6  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

1895,  there  were  more  than  300  wells  within  an  area  of  less  than  4,000,- 
000  sq.  ft.  During  1895,  the  price  of  crude  oil  at  Los  Angeles  fell  to  a 
ruinously  low  rate,  the  average  price  for  that  year  being  about  60  cents 
a  barrel;  indeed,  there  were  sales  at  a  much  lower  rate,  it  is  said  even 
as  low  as  25  cents  a  barrel.  The  reason  of  this  depression  was  the  lack 
of  cor)peration  among  the  oil-producers  and  the  lack  of  facilities  for 
storing  and  handling  th(!  oil.  Early  in  18i)B,  the  price  of  oil  commenced 
to  recover,  and  in  July,  1896,  it  had  reached  $1  a  barrel.  The  reason  of 
this  recovery  was  the  diminishing  of  the  supply,  the  organization  of 
the  oil-producers,  and  the  increased  facilities  for  storing  and  handling 
the  oil, 

1.1.19.  The  rock  penetrated  by  the  oil-wells  at  Second-Street  Park 
consists  of  soft,  thin-bedded  sandstones,  and  sandy  clays  and  shales, 
which  are  interstratified  by  thin  strata  of  impure  limestone  and  calca- 
reous strata  and  two  or  more  strata  of  oil-bearing  sand.  This  formation 
is  of  Pliocene  age.  At  least,  as  before  mentioned,  all  the  fossils  obtained 
from  the  outcropping  rocks  in  the  Los  Angeles  oil-field  and  elsewhere 
in  Los  Angeles  are  of  that  age.  The  principal  stratum  of  oil-bearing 
sand  is  about  150'  thick,  and  it  crops  out  at  the  surface  on  Burlington 
Street,  about  300'  north  of  First  Street.  As  a  typical  illustration  of  the 
character  of  the  strata  penetrated  by  the  oil-wells  at  Second-Street 
Park,  Mr.  Doheny  states  that  wells  drilled  by  the  Doheny  Oil  Co.,  in 
the  northeastern  portion  of  the  oil-field,  pierce  the  following  formations: 

Sandy  and  clayey  strata,  with  thin  strata  of  hard  rock 650' 

Oil-sand,  interstratified  with  sandy  clay 125' 

Tough  clay  (putty).. 200' 

Oil-sand,  witli  water .-. 3' 

Sand,  with  water undetermined. 

The  oil-sand  is  more  than  100'  thick,  the  richest  portion  of  it  being 
about  45'  thick.  Mr.  Doheny  states  that  the  dip  at  which  he  struck 
the  oil-sand  in  most  of  his  wells  shows  that  in  the  portion  of  the  field 
in  which  his  wells  are  situated  the  prevailing  dip  is  at  an  angle  of 
about  40^,  but  that  the  angle  of  inclination  is  by  no  means  uniform; 
the  latter  inference  is  corroborated  by  the  experience  of  others,  as  here- 
inafter noted. 

1.1.20.  In  other  portions  of  the  field  the  following  formation  has 
been  penetrated: 

Adobe  soil --- 6' 

Yellow  clay... 20' 

Tough  blue  clay 20' to    30' 

Clay  shale,  with  thin  strata  of  sand  and  hard  calcareous  strata, 

"shells" 200' to  700' 

Oil-sand 70' to  145' 

1.1.21.  Fig.  4  represents  a  section  across  the  west  end  of  the  oil-field 
at  Second-Street  Park.  It  shows  the  lines  of  geological  disturbance  to 
the  north  and  south  of  the  oil-field,  the  outcrop  of  the  oil-sand,  and  the 
point  where  it  is  penetrated  by  a  well  sunk  by  Mr.  Garbutt,  near  the 
corner  of  First  Street  and  Union  Avenue,  Up  to  April,  1896,  this  well 
was  the  farthest  west  of  any  productive  one  in  the  district.  In  this 
well,  the  oil-sand  was  struck  at  about  855'  deep,  which  shows  that  at 
this  end  of  the  field  the  angle  of  the  dip  of  the  oil-sand  must  be  about 
45°.  This  angle  is  very  nearly  that  of  the  dip  of  the  formation  exposed 
near  Mr.  Garbutt's  well,  but  more  than  that  of  the  oil-sand  where  it 
crops  out  at  the  surface  of  the  ground  on  Burlington  Street.     On  the 


OIL   AND   GAS   YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS   ANGELES   COUNTY.  7 

right-hand  side  of  the  diagram  is  the  south  line  of  disturbance,  notice- 
able on  Quebec  Street.  If  this  line  is  followed  along  its  strike,  it  would 
■cross  Western  Avenue  near  Silver  Street.  It  has  been  necessary  to 
make  the  lines  of  disturbance  well  marked  on  this  diagram,  but  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground  they  are  merely  indicated  by  strata  dipping  in 
•opposite  directions.  On  Burlington  Street,  about  300'  north  of  First 
Street,  is  the  only  place  in  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field  where  the 


Fig.  4. 


Fig.  5. 

A.— Union  Oil  Co.'s  well  on  First  Street. 
B. — American  Crude  Oil  Co.'s  well. 
C— Cole's  well. 
D.— American  Crude  Oil  Co.'s  well. 

sands  were  observed  cropping  out.     The  reason  of  this  may  be  explained 
by  Fig.  5. 

1.1.22.  In  well  A,  on  the  south  side  of  First  Street,  the  oil-sand  was 
struck  at  a  depth  of  1,010'.  If  a  line  be  drawn  from  this  well  across 
the  oil-field,  and  at  right  angles  to  the  prevailing  strike  of  the  formation, 
which  is  S.  80"^  E.,  and  if  the  wells  nearest  thereto,  of  which  information 
could  be  obtained,  are  arranged  at  points  where  the  strike  of  the  strata 
they  penetrate  cross  the  line,  the  profile  shown  in  Fig.  5  is  obtained. 
From  oil -sand  in  well  A  to  oil-sand  in  wells  B  and  C,  the  dip  is  shown 

2-M 


8  CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

to  be  at  an  angle  of  about  35°.  From  oil-sand  in  well  C  to  oil-sand  in 
well  D,  the  dip  shown  does  not  exceed  an  angle  of  16°.  With  the  oil- 
sand  dipping  at  this  low  angle  it  could  not  come  to  the  surface  l)efore 
reaching  the  line  of  disturbance  noted  in  the  north  end  of  the  field. 
In  wells  drilled  along  the  north  and  soutli  margins  of  the  oil-line, 
water  has  been  troublesome  and  has  prescribed  the  width  of  the  oil- 
bearing  territory.  The  operators  in  the  Los  Angeles  oil-fields  agree  that 
the  main  stratum  of  oil-sand  thus  far  explored  is  from  100'  to  150' 
thick,  but  that,  as  a  rule,  it  is  not  productive  all  the  way  through.  The 
general  opinion  of  well-drillers  appears  to  be  that  on  an  average  at 
least  40'  of  the  oil-sand  may  be  put  down  as  "pay  dirt." 

1.1.23.  Experiments  have  been  made  by  Mr.  Hawley,  a  civil  engi- 
neer, as  to  the  absorbent  powers  of  this  oil-sand,  and  he  states  that  he 
found  that  it  would  absorb  about  10%  of  oil  of  14°  B.  These  figures  agree- 
very  closely  with  experiments  made  in  Eastern  States  on  the  absorbent 
powers  of  sand.  Mr.  Doheny  also  made  some  experiments  on  oil-sand 
from  the  Maltman  tract,  and  obtained  higher  results. 

1.1.24.  For  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  concrete  idea  of  the  situation 
which  is  within  the  range  of  probability,  it  may  be  tentatively  admitted 
as  follows:  That  the  Los  Angeles  oil-field,  as  far  as  developments  have 
shown,  derives  its  oil  from  a  stratum  of  sand  carrying  about  10%  of  oil; 
that  the  said  stratum  is  about  40'  thick,  and  has  an  area  of  about  4,000,- 
000  sq.  ft.  Such  a  stratum  would  contain,  in  round  numbers,  about 
2,850,000  bbls.  of  oil.  A  careful  canvass  of  all  the  oil-producers  shows 
that  in  1894  no  inconsiderable  amount  was  produced,  while  in  1895  the 
Los  Angeles  oil-fields  produced  729,695  bbls.,  or  about  one  fourth  of  our 
theoretical  total  contents  of  the  sand.  The  question  that  naturally  arises 
is,  how  much  of  the  remaining  2,000,000  bbls.  of  oil  can  be  obtained  by 
pumping?  There  do  not  appear  to  be  many  factors  on  which  to  base 
an  estimate.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  is  a  heavy  oil;  that  the 
gas  pressure  in  the  Los  Angeles  wells  was  never  very  great.  Therefore, 
the  probabilities  are  that,  even  after  a  well  has  ceased  to  yield  enough 
oil  to  pay  for  pumping  every  day,  providing  the  wells  do  not  become 
filled  with  water  or  choked  with  sand,  small  quantities  of  oil  might  be 
pumped  from  them  for  quite  a  long  period.  Moreover,  although  there 
is  such  a  forest  of  derricks  at  Second-Street  Park,  they  are  by  no  means 
uniformly  distributed  over  the  4,000,000  sq.  ft.  which  we,  by  way  of  a 
rough  estimate,  put  down  as  the  area  of  the  oil-sand. 

1.1.25.  In  the  beginning  of  March,  1896,  there  were  about  330  wells 
in  the  oil-field.  Allowing  to  each  well,  say  5,000  sq.  ft.,  as  they  were 
distributed  at  that  date,  it  would  seem  that  there  must  be  more  land  in 
the  area  we  calculated  yet  to  be  heard  from.  Much  of  the  unbroken 
territory  is  covered  by  streets  and  buildings;  this  is  all  the  better  for 
the  wells  which  are  near  them;  but  it  seems  probable  that  if  a  reason- 
able price  can  be  maintained  for  the  oil,  wells  will  yet  be  sunk  at 
Second-Street  Park,  which  may  yield  moderate  returns.*  The  question 
naturally  suggests  itself,  cannot  other  strata  of  oil-sand  be  found  by 
drilling  to  a  greater  depth  than  has  yet  been  reached?  The  experiment 
is  worth  trying,  but  the  only  wells  which  in  April,  1896,  had  gone  far 
below  the  main  oil-sand  have  encountered  water.  With  the  limitation 
of  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field  thus  in  sight,  the  question  as  to  the 


♦These  remarks  are  based  on  observations  made  in  1895. 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDIiXG    FORMATIONS — LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  9 

extension  of  the  oil-iield  becomes  one  of  great  moment,  and  the  only- 
plan  is  to  follow  the  strike  of  the  formation  which  has  proved  to  l)e  oil- 
producing.  As  indicated  by  the  arrows  in  the  geological  sketch  map  of 
\V'est  Los  Angeles,  Fig.  31,  the  prevailing  dip  of  the  formation,  as  seen 
at  the  surface,  is  S.  10°  W.,  although  there  are  numerous  aberrations 
from  that  azimuth.  The  depth  at  which  the  oil-sand  was  struck  in  the 
different  wells  loads  to  the  conclusion  that,  in  the  main,  the  strike  and 
dip  of  the  oil-sand  are  similar  to  those  of  the  rocks  exposed  at  the 
surface.  The  general  direction  of  the  oil-line,  as  indicated  by  the  pro- 
ductive wells,  is  practically  east  and  west.  Disregarding  any  faults 
there  may  be  in  the  rocky  formation,  which  for  the  most  part  is  covered 
by  alluvium,  an  inspection  of  the  geological  map  of  Los  Angeles  leads 
to  the  following  conclusion:  If  the  oil-line  on  which  Second-Street 
Park  oil-field  is  situated  be  extended  westward  it  would  pass  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  Baptist  University.  Southwest  of  the  university 
grounds  a  formation  is  exposed  which  corresponds  very  closely  to  that 
at  Second-Street  Park.  This  formation  rests  on  a  series  of  sandstones, 
several  strata  of  which  are  oil-bearing.  On  the  Maltman  tract  these 
sandstones,  which  show  a  thickness  of  several  hundred  feet,  are  pene- 
trated by  nine  wells,  ranging  from  140'  to  285'  in  depth.  Each  of 
these  wells,  as  before  mentioned,  can  be  made  to  yield  something  less 
than  2  bbls.  of  heavy  oil  a  day.  In  all  the  deeper  wells  water  was 
encountered.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  oil-yielding  formations 
extend  westward  from  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field.  The  only 
attempts  that  have  been  made  to  prospect  the  territory  between  the 
Second-Street  Park  and  the  Baptist  University  are  as  follows:  The 
Fudicker  well,  situated  south  of  First  Street  and  near  what  would 
be  Reno  Street  if  it  were  graded;  the  Union  Oil  Co.  well,  situated  south 
of  First  and  west  of  Alvarado  Street;  one  known  as  the  old  Dryden 
well,  which  is  about  1,000'  northwest  of  the  preceding,  and  one  sunk  by 
Mr.  Doheny,  near  the  corner  of  First  and  Newhall  streets.  All  of  these 
wells  proved  unsuccessful  and  are  abandoned;  the  cause  assigned  for 
the  failure  of  the  first  two  being  water  or  water  and  quicksand. 
Farther  south,  near  Westlake  Park,  is  the  Wilshire  well,  which  was 
unsuccessful;  and  farther  west  there  are  a  very  few  shallow  wells,  like 
the  Ruhland,  Avhich  have  yielded  small  quantities  of  heavy  oil.  From 
the  record  of  these  wells,  the  outlook  to  the  west  does  not  seem 
encouraging.  A  careful  inspectj^n  of  the  territory,  however,  leads  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  Doheny  and  the  Union  Oil  Co.'s  wells  are  the 
only  prospect  wells  mentioned  that  penetrate  similar  strata  to  those 
which  yield  the  oil  at  Second-Street  Park;  that  the  Doheny  well  must 
be  nearly  on  the  outcrop  of  the  oil-sand,  and  that  probably  the  well  of 
the  Union  Oil  Co.  is  not  very  far  south  of  it.  In  the  northeast  end  of  the 
Second-Street  Park  oil-field,  the  exposed  rocks  on  Bellevue  Avenue,  near 
Victor  Street,  give  evidence  of  geological  disturbance,  which  probably 
accounts  for  the  fact  that  some  wells  in  this  portion  of  the  oil-field  have 
proved  unsuccessful. 

1.1.26.  At  first  sight  the  steep  dip  of  the  formation,  as  seen  near  the 
corner  of  Beaudry  and  Bellevue  avenues,  is  very  disheartening,  for  the 
continuation  of  so  steep  a  dip  would  restrict  the  field  to  a  very  narrow 
oil-line.  Investigations  farther  to  the  eastward,  however,  show  that  this 
is  not  the  case.  Rock  exposures  on  Bartlett  Street,  near  Pearl,  show  a 
dip  of  a  little  west  of  south  at  an  angle  of  about  25°,  which  leads  to  the 


10  CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

conclusion  that  the  steepness  of  the  dip  near  the  corner  of  Beaudry  and 
Bellevue  avenues  is  but  local.  There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  reason 
why  the  oil-yielding  formations  should  not  be  followed  east  from  Second- 
Street  Park,  but  between  it  and  the  Los  Angeles  River  there  are  very  few 
opportunities  of  examining  the  rocky  strata.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact, 
however,  that  in  the  water-wells  which  penetrate  the  drift  near  the  Main- 
Street  bridge,  traces  of  oil  contaminate  the  water. 

1.1.27.  The  Brook  or  Chandler  well,  and  the  Hoag  &  Silent  well,  situ- 
ated in  the  north  edge  of  De  Soto  Heights  (see  Fig.  30),  must  be  very 
nearly  on  the  strike  of  the  formation  penetrated  by  the  oil-well  at 
Second-Street  Park,  but  they  appear  to  be  abandoned.  It  is  said  that 
heavy  oil  was  obtained  in  the  Brook  well,  but  that  it  was  impossible  to 
case  off  the  water  without  also  casing  off  the  oil.  Several  enterprising 
citizens  have  drilled  wells  in  an  endeavor  to  find  other  oil-lands  in  the 
vicinity  of  Los  Angeles,  but  without  success;  in  nearly  all  these  wells 
the  strata  penetrated  showed  small  quantities  of  oil.  It  is  said  that  the 
cause  of  failure,  in  most  instances,  was  water,  or  water  and  quicksand. 

1.1.28.  From  the  foregoing  it  appears  that  an  extensive  oil-yielding 
formation  underlies  a  portion  of  Los  Angeles;  that  up  to  date  explora- 
tions outside  of  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field  have  not  been  successful. 
A  review  of  the  situation  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  the  best  results 
will  be  obtained  by  following  the  strike  of  the  productive  oil-yielding 
formation  rather  than  by  sporadic  prospecting.  When  a  point  is  reached 
where  the  formation  is  broken,  in  the  absence  of  any  rock  exposures  to 
prove  that  the  geological  disturbance  is  other  than  local,  several  hundred 
feet  should  be  passed  over  and  prospecting  be  re-commenced  still  in  the 
direction  of  what  had  been  previously  proven  to  be  the  strike  of  the 
oil-yielding  rocks.  Accurate  drilling  records  should  be  kept,  from  which 
a  profile  of  the  oil-yielding  strata  might  be  made,  and  by  which  an 
engineer  could  trace  the  course  of  the  oil-sand.  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
the  direction  of  the  strike  and  the  angle  of  the  dip  are  somewhat  irreg- 
ular, the  safest  mode  of  procedure  is  to  progress  gradually  and  not 
make  too  long  jumps. 

1.1.29.  One  interesting  feature  of  the  Los  Angeles  oil-field  is  that  the 
oil  from  the  upper  strata  is  usually  of  a  less  specific  gravity  than  that 
from  the  lower  strata.  Thus,  there  are  instances  in  the  Los  Angeles 
oil-field  where  the  specific  gravity  of  the  oil  increased  with  the  depth 
according  to  the  following  ratio:  t^ 

At  a  depth  of  300'  the  specific  gravity  of  the  oil  was  20°  B. 
At  a  depth  of  7oO'  the  specilic  gravity  of  the  oil  was  19°  B. 
At  a  depth  of  900'  the  specific  gravity  of  the  oil  was  16°  B. 

This  is  the  reverse  of  the  usual  experience  with  oil-wells. 

1.1.30.  The  cost  of  wells  in  this  oil-field  has  been  remarkably  small. 
The  drilling  of  a  1,000' well  has  been  sometimes  contracted  for  less  than 
$1,000,  and  the  cost  of  a  plant  for  operating  a  well  need  not  exceed 
$1,500,  and  indeed  is  frequently  less. 


OIL    AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY. 


11 


TABULAR    STATEMENT    OF  LOS    ANGELES    OIL-WELLS,  FOR    THE   YEAR 
1895,  AS   FURNISHED   BY   OWNERS  OR    AGENTS. 


Name  and  Address  of  Company. 


•—2 


Adams,  II.  B 

Alderson,  J.ll.,  1807S.  Hope  Street 

American  Crude  Oil  Co.,  Byrne  Building. 


2 
4 
5 


Bayer  &  Last  . 
Bayer  it  Bentz . 


Beech,  Young  &  Cocliran,  260  Galena  Ave., 
I'asadena.- -.. 

Blunt,  ^Irs.  Cora  A.,  149  Kern  Street 

Bosley  tt  Co.,  G.  W.,  309  Figueroa  Street 

Brophy,  Forst  &  Tabor,  Edge  ware  and  Omaha 

Broph y,  Morris  &  Blaisdell,  care  Savings  Bank 

&  Trust  Co 


Depth. 
Feet. 


Burns,  John,  Court  Circle   .. 

Carbon  Hill  Oil  Sc  Coal  Co.,  338  S.  Broadway 
Chandler  (new  welU 

Cheney  W.  H.  E..  15.32  Rockwood  Street 

Chicago  Crude  Oil  Co.,  309  S.  Hope  Street. . . 

Clark,  J.  R.,  2433  Grand  Avenue 

Coe,  E.  \V.,  care  L.  A.  National  Bank 

Cole,  A.,  Belmont  and  First  Streets 

Combination  Oil  Co.,  1319  Omaha  Street 

Consolidated  Oil  Co.,  .305  State  Street 


Crosswell  Oil  Co.,  341  Edgeware  Road. 


Cullen,  K.  P.,  213  Nolan  &  Smith  Block. 


Dagget  it  Fletcher,  1342  Calumet  Avenue. . . 

Davis,  Cook  &  Co.,  care  Chamber  of  Com. .. 

Davisson,  Melice  &  Co.,  Byrne  Building 

Davis,  Sloan  it  Beers,  320  Park  Place. 

Day,  A.  C,  826  Buena  Vista  Street 

Diamond  Oil  Co.,  147  S.  Broadway 

Doheny-Connon  Oil  Co.,  Stimson  Block 

Dryden,  W.,  L'^niversity  Post  Office 

Eagen,  May  &  Mernier,  1525  Rockwood  Ave. 

East  Side  Oil  Co.,  530  Stimson  Block 


Ellsworth  it  Griggs 

Embody  .t  Stack,  132  S.  Broadway. 
Embody  it  Stack _". . 


Empire  Oil  Co.,  130}^  S.  Spring  Street. 


Eureka  Oil  Co.,  302  Smith  &  Nolan  Block . 
Ferguson  &  Canfield,  373  N.  Main  Street.. 


2 


4^ 


1 

2 

4 
1 
3 

28 

2 
1 

2 


H 


3  -, 


550 
700 
770 

to  925 
700 

to  800 

1,100 

965 

986 

840 
800 

977 
840 
742 
765 
805 
775 
950 
880 
911 
810 
955 


To  First 
Sand. 
Feet. 


730 


Specific 
Uravity. 


16.0°  B 
15.5°  B 
to  855   tol4.5°B 
15.0°  B 


700 
None 


820 
715 
690 
665 
640 


700 
650 
900 


1,035 

1,000 
700 
750 
750 
906 

1,025 
952 
981 
900 
78,S 
930 

1,000 
830 
835 


900 
770 
600 


350 
650 

825 


700 
750 

750 
750 


650 


400 


730 


930 


750 
989 
810 
900 
900 
1  =  890 
6  ==650 
865 


660 


740 
750 


893 
740 
860 
840 
800 
to  950 
950 
950 
850 


790 
660 
790 
770 


800 
745 


15.0°  B 


13.0°  B 
14.5°  B 


13.5°  B 


16.0°  B 


18.0°  B 
19.0°  B 
15.5°  B 


14.0°  B 


•16.0°  B 


15.5°  B 


15.0°  B 
17.0°  B 


15.5°  B 


14.5°  B 
16.0°  B 


18.0°  B 


16.0°  B 
16.0°  B 


16.0°  B 


14.5°  B 

to 
16.5°  B 


15.0°  B 
15.0°  H 
14.0°  B 


Product 

of  1895. 

Bbls. 


700 
10,000 

30,000 

25,000 


12,000 
100 


1,200 
1,500 
5,000 


4,000 


20,000 

None. 

95 

1,200 

None. 

1,800 

1,600 

3,000 

7,000 

7,000 


6,000 


5,000 


5,000 
5,000 


7,000 
1,500 
3,000 
5,000 
100,000 


6,C00 
1,000 


1,000 
8,000 


6,000 
4,000 


15,C0O 
'5,600 


2,200 


12 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


Tabular  Statement— Continued. 


Name  and  Address  of  Company. 


Depth. 
Feet. 


To  First 

Srtlld. 

Feet. 


Specific 
Graviiy. 


Product 

of  Ih95. 

BblB. 


Ferguson,  Mrs.  M.  L.,  5  Phillips  Block. 
Fowler,  K.  A.,  115  W.  Second  Street 


Frendberger,  P.,  321  Metcalf  Street 

Green,  K.,  811  Bonnie  Brae 

Greenwood  it  Barkelow,  Toluca  and  First  Sts. 

Guiteau,  H.  C,  142  W.  Twenty-fifth  Street  _.. 
Haight,  Webster  &  Co.,  401  N.  Figueroa  St. ... 

Hall,  Charles  Victor,  220  Central  Avenue 

Harrison,  H.  H.,  316  Park  Place 

Henderson,  F.  B.  &  Co.,  516  Bradbury  Block.. 

Hibbard  &  Co.,  340  S.  Edge  ware  lload 

Hoffman  &  Weller,  109  N.  Main  Street 


Home,  J.  K.,  1354  Court  Street 

Johnson,  M.  D.,  216  W.  First  Street 

Keating  Oil  Co.,  945  Pasadena  Avenue 

Lake  Shore  Oil  Co.,  20  Schumacher  Block 

Lathrop,  Chas.,  1017  Temple  Street 

Lawrence,  Geo.,  20  Potomac  Block 

Lehman  &  Mills,  213  S.  Spring  Street 

Lewis,  Mrs.,  161J>.ake  Shore  Avenue 

Libby,  C.  H.,  340  S.  Edgeware  Road 

Lohma  Oil  Co.,  W.  Lacy,  Pres.,  4  Baker  Block. 

L.  A.  Con.  Oil  Co.,  Court  and  Patten 

Luitweiler,  S.  W.,  200  N.  Los  Angeles  Street.. 

McCabe,  Frank,  302  First  Street 

McGray  &  Warring,  Temple  and  Park  Place.. 

McGary  &  Keed,  227  W.  Second  Street 

McOee,  E.  M.,  Lake  Shore  and  State 

Mcintosh,  207  Bradbury  Block 

Maier  &  Zobelein,  444  Aliso  Street 

Manatt,  Rich  &  Schall,  546  Ruth  Avenue 

Martin,  A.  E.,  142  Court  Street 


Mathay,  F.  L.,  1327  Court  Street 


Nelson,  R.  T.,  176  Bonnie  Brae 

Neubauer,  J.,  1579  Rock  wood  Street. 
North,  Edward,  1127  Temple  Street. 


O'Reilley,  Mrs.  Zella,  631  Washington  Street. 
Orr  &  Patterson,  147  N.  Spring  Street 


Osborne  &  Stoll,  9  Metcalf  Street 


1 
1 

2\ 


3 
1 
3 

2  i 


1 
4 

2  J 


^1 

4 

2) 


11 
1 
<> 


^1 

2 
1 
1 
3 

^i 

4 


800 
820 
620 
620 
915 
907 
475 
715 
800 
758 
935 
900 
900 
750 
860 
700 
960 
970 
760 
815 
750 
850 
950 
650 
800 
981 
1,015 
800 
750 
850 
710 
745 
843 
950 
700 
900 
750 
800 


720 
1,050 
700 
to  1,140 
840 
850 
800 
830 
811 
800 
765 
850 
800 
840 
800 
800 
860 
825 
890 
840 
850 
600 
630 
757 
600 
600 
800 
800 


760 


780 


750 
820 


700 
700 
700 


950 
975 


810 


675 
1,020 


700 


750 
770 
750 


740 
890 
7«0 
770 


600 


15.0°  B 


16.0°  B 


15.0°  H 
16.0°  B 


15.0°  B 


16.0°  B 
15.0°  B 


14.5°  B 
19.5°  B 


17.0°  B 


17.0° 
14.0° 
14.0° 
14.5°  B 
15.5°  B 
16.0°  B 


B 
B 
B 


15.0°  B 


16.0°  B 
13.0°  B 


18.0°  B 


15.5°  B 
16.0°  B 


16.0°  B 
17.0°  B 


18.5°  B 


16.0°  B 


15.5°  B 
15.0°  B 


17.5°  B 


16.0°  B 
'i6"5°B' 


1,500 
2,000 


None. 
None. 


2.000 
3,500 


5,000 


8,700 
3,000 


2,300 
7,500 


4,000 

2,000 

20,000 


1,800 
1,500 


20,000 


3,500 

12,0«K) 

5,600 


3,500 

40,000 

2,000 

1,500 


13,400 
500 
2,100 
1,.'>00 
7,000 
3,000 


13,400 


12,000 


12.000 
8,000 


7,198 


3,000 


1,200 
8^666 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS    ANGELES   COUNTY. 


Tabular  Statement— Continued. 


Name  and  Address  of  Company. 

2.^ 

Depth. 
Feet. 

To  First 
Sand. 
Feet. 

Spppific 
Gravity. 

Product 

of  189.5. 
Bbls. 

Pacific  Union  Oil  Co.,  115  W.  Second  Street... 

11 

7 

H 

1 

M 

3 

1 
3 
1 
3 

2  i 

( 

«   t 

790 

675 

895 

1,005 

1,024 

5,000 

Parker  L.  C.  136  S.  Broadway 

Istsand 
2d  sand 

=20.0°  B 
=14.5°  B" 
150°B 

Parker-'Morril  Oil  Co.,  W.  State  and  Douglas 
Streets      .  . -  

18,700 
40,000 

870 
930 
920 
810 
745 
825 
820 
900 
825 
690 
715 
800 

1,026 
735 

1,100 

Phajnix  Oil  Co.,  41  Brvson  Block .- 

Powell.  James.  1127  Temple  Street     .. 

17.0°  B 
15.0°B 

4,500 
9,500 

Ilaymond  Oil  Co.,  Third  and  Main  Streets 

700 

14.5°B 

12,000 

Rex  Oil  Co..  230  S.  Soring  Street  -.        

765 
515 

15.0°  B 
15.0°B 

Robinson  Geo.  S.,  233  W.  First  Street  

7,000 
1,800 

Ruddv  Burns  &  Mathav  .   .      .                   

5,000 

Schwartzentahl,  ]SIrs.  L.,  First  and  Union  Sts. 

Sheldon,  M.  N.,  >Second  and  Broadway 

Silent,  ('has.  E.,  150  S.  Broadway  -            

""eoo" 

680 
750 

18.0°  B 
14.0°  B 
17.0°  B 
15.0°B 

3,000 
600 
6,000 
2,000 
3,300 

Silent  &  Callender,  Second  and  Broadway 

Skinner  tfe  Tonkin 

Southern  California  Oil  Co.,  408  S.  Broadway. 

894 
8S8 
660 
800 
750 
685 
540 
850 
850 
840 
830 
700 
940 

1,000 

Sterling  &  Co.,  310  S.  Edgeware  Road ,      z  ^ 

500 

7 
3 

1 
1 

0   i 
( 
12 
7 
3 
1 
I 
1 

Strauss,  Mrs.  A,  233  N.  Grand  Ave 

450 

None. 

Sunset  Oil  Co.,  41  Bryson  Block 

""'825' 

15.5°B 
110°B 
1.5.5°  B 
15.5°B 

3,000 

""1^650 
2,000 

Suskin,  A.  H.,  121  S.Broadway 

Thompson,  R.  C,  Omaha  Street .  ... 

Tomlinson,  Mrs.  C,  1318  Omaha  Street 

Tubbs,  G.  W.,  Washington  Street   

1,000 

Turner  Eros.,  206  Patton  Street 

18,000 

Union  Oil  Co.,  Byrne  Block .. 

8,152 

Walker,  Rust  it  Hunt.  342  Metcalf  Street 

Wilkinson  &  Kellam,  147  S.  Broadway. 

Wing,  R.  W.,  301  Welcome  Street 

780 
780 
840 
810 

""770 

]6.0°B 
16.0°  P, 
16.0°B 

10,000 
1,000 
3,000 

New 

Wylie 

Total 

729,695 

CHAPTER  II. 


Pipe-Lines  and  Tankage. 

1.2.01.  Pacific  Oil  Refinery  and  Supply  Company. — Its  pipe-line 
extends  from  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field  to  its  tanks  on  Santa 
Fe  Avenue.  The  plant  consists  of  1  mile  of  6"  pipe,  4  miles  of  4"  pipe, 
and  I  mile  of  3^"  pipe.     The  tankage  is  75,000  bbls. 

1.2.02.  Union  Oil  Company.  Its  pipe-line  extends  from  the  Second- 
Street  Park  oil-field  to  Palmetto  Street,  on  the  Southern  California 
Railway.  The  plant  consists  of  5  miles  of  4"  pipe,  principally,  and  a 
tankage  capacity  of  32,000  bbls. 

1.2.03.  The  daily  yield  of  oil  during  1895  was  rather  more  than  2,000 


14  CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

bbls.     During  the  first  half  of  1896,  it  was  estimated  approximately  at 
1,400  bbls.  a  day. 

1.2.04.  Stock  of  Oil  on  Hand  at  Los  Angeles. — 

In  the  field-March  24,  1896 37,500  bbls. 

In  the  (ield— May  2,  1^96. 38,700  bbls. 

In  the  field— May  IS,  1H96 34,100  bbls. 

In  tiie  lield— MaV  30,  1896 34.190  bbls. 

Outside  the  field— May  30,  1896 55,800  bbls. 

In  the  field— .lune  29,  1896 32,100  bbl.s. 

In  the  lield— July  20, 1896 29,870  bbls. 

1.2.05.  A  canvass  of  the  owners  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  during 
1895  a  decrease  of  from  25%  to  50%  was  noted  in  the  product  of  the 
wells  at  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field. 

1.2.06.  The  Los  Angeles  wells  yield  only  a  small  quantity  of  gas,  and 
but  few  instances  of  its  being  used  were  noted. 

1.2.07.  The  Tankage  in  May,  189G.— 

In  the  Second-Street  Park  field  70,000  bbls. 

Outside  the  Second-Street  Park  field- 
Southern  California  Supply  Co 70,000  bbls 

Union  Oil  Co..-. 32,000  bbls 

Puente 6,500  bbls 

Standard  Oil 45,000  bbls 

Oil  Exchange - 3,600  bbls 

Hoffman  &  Weller 2,400  bbls 

Pritchard&Co 2,400  bbls 

S.  P.  li.  R.Co - 20,000  bbls 


Total 251,900  bbls. 

CHAPTER  III. 
Abandoned  Wells. 

1.3.01.  The  following  wells  which  were  drilled  for  oil  proved  unsuc- 
cessful and  appear  to  be  abandoned.  There  are  also  other  wells  situated 
in  the  northern  and  southern  outskirts  of  the  Second-Street  Park  oil- 
field which  proved  unsuccessful  and  are  abandoned.  It  is  said  that  the 
trouble  with  most  of  them  was  Avater,  or  water  and  quicksand : 

1.3.02.  Allison  &  Barlow  well,  near  corner  of  Beaudry  Avenue  and 
Second  Street,  is  1,000'  deep.     Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.03.  Angelina  Heights  well  is  in  lot  26,  block  19.  The  formation  is 
principally  a  dark-colored  shale  with  hard  strata;  sunk  to  a  depth  of 
1,186',  and  found  quicksand  Avith  water.  A  stratum  of  oil-sand  6'  thick 
was  struck  at  a  depth  of  960';  and  is  said  to  have  j'ielded  a  green  oil. 
Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.04.  Boyle  Heights  wells  were  drilled  several  years  ago;  one  about 
300'  and  the  other  about  600'  deep.  It  is  said  that  a  small  amount  of 
oil  was  obtained.     Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.05.  Bryant  &  Co.'s  well  is  at  Ivanhoe  and  a  short  distance  north- 
east of  the  City  of  Los  Angeles.  It  is  said  that  this  well  is  more  than 
1,000'  deep;  that  the  formation  is  principally  soft  sandstone  and  sandy 
shale,  with  hard  calcareous  strata.  Small  quantities  of  oil  and  much 
water  were  struck.     Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.06.  Chance  well  is  near  the  corner  of  Echo  Park  Road  and  Bel- 
mont Avenue;  it  penetrated  sandy  and  clayey  strata  to  450'  in  depth, 
when  there  was  a  showing  of  oil,  but  too  much  water  and  quicksand 
caused  the  well  to  be  abandoned. 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS —LOS   ANGELES    COUNTY,  15 

1.3.07.  Chandler  (Brook)  well  is  on  lot  20,  block  7,  corner  Afagnolia 
and  Breed  streets,  Los  Angeles.  Sandy  shale  and  clay  with  oil  to  100' 
in  depth;  surface  water  cased  off  at  90'  depth,  thence  bluish  mud  to  324' 
depth.  At  150'  a  thin,  hard  stratum  was  passed  through,  beneath  which 
there  was  a  good  showing  of  heavy  oil.  At  335'  large  quantities  of  salt 
water  were  encountered.  It  is  said  that  this  well  is  abandoned  on 
account  of  the  water. 

1.3.08.  Denker  wells  are  about  10  miles  a  little  north  of  west  of  the 
City  of  Los  Angeles,  on  the  northern  part  of  the  Rancho  Rodeo  de  las 
Aguas,  more  generally  known  as  the  Ilammel  &  Denker  ranch,  and 
just  at  the  foot  of  the  Santa  Monica  range  of  mountains.  On  this 
ranch  there  are  some  tar  springs  and  some  patches  of  asphaltum,  and 
several  years  ago  A.  H.  Denker  drilled  two  520'  wells.  The  forma- 
tion penetrated,  as  shown  by  the  record  of  one  of  these  Avells,  is,  slate, 
shale,  and  sandstone,  100';  black  sandstone,  100';  slate,  10';  sand- 
stone, with  a  little  oil,  100';  sandstone,  with  tar  and  sulphur  water,  G5'; 
very  fine  hard  sand,  15';  sand,  with  a  little  oil,  15';  black  slate,  with 
pyrites,  25'.  At  25'  depth,  the  first  water  was  encountered;  at  465' 
depth  there  was  strong  sulphur  water  and  some  gas.  Both  these  wells 
yield  flowing  sulphureted  water  and  small  quantities  of  oil. 

1.3.09.  Dunklcberger  well,  corner  of  Emerald  and  Second  streets;  is 
800'  in  depth,  with  very  little  oil.     Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.10.  Eureka  Oil  Co.  [Thomas)  well.  This  well  is  on  the  line  of 
Effie  Street,  about  400'  north  of  Berkeley  Avenue.  It  is  said  that  this 
well  is  700'  deep;  that  there  was  some  showing  of  oil,  but  that  the  well 
is  abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.11.  Fudicker  well,  550'  deep,  is  south  of  the  corner  of  First  and 
Reno  streets.  Formation,  sandstone  and  shale.  The  sandstone  showed 
much  oil  and  a  great  deal  of  water.  Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 
A  stream  of  water,  accompanied  by  a  little  oil,  flows  from  this  well. 

1.3.12.  Gasson  well  is  on  the  Hunter  tract  and  west  of  Garvanza; 
985'  deep;  no  oil;  water. 

1.3.13.  Green  Meadow  ranch  well  is  on  Washington  Street,  and  about 
5^  miles  west  of  Los  Angeles.  This  well  was  drilled  to  about  500'  in 
depth.  The  formation  is  soft  sandstone;  much  water;  some  gas.  From 
this  well  several  Quaternary  or  late  Pliocene  fossils  were  obtained. 

1.3.14.  Hoag  &  Silent  well  is  in  block  4  of  East  Los  Angeles,  and  a 
short  distance  northwest  of  the  Chandler  well.  It  is  said  to  be  aban- 
doned. 

1.3.15.  Johnson  well  is  near  the  corner  of  Figueroa  and  Third  streets; 
1,100'  deep;  water. 

1.3.16.  La  Brea  Rancho  well  is  about  6  miles  west  of  Los  Angeles; 
two  wells  were  drilled  on  this  ranch,  and  the  following  record  is  given 
in  our  Vllth  Report  of  one,  a  658'  well:  "At  a  depth  of  81',  coarse  gray 
sand;  at  83',  very  fine-grained  black  bituminous  shale;  at  420',  coarse- 
grained pebbly  sand,  yellowish-brown  in  color;  at  479',  dark-colored 
bituminous  shale;  at  651'  and  at  658',  black  sticky  bituminous  shale." 
Of  the  other,  a  1,485'  well:  "  Black  sand  and  brea,  43';  quicksand,  45'; 
hard  shale,  18';  black  sand  and  brea,  248';  hard  shale,  18';  sand  and 
brea,  618';  soft  blue  mud,  320';  oil-sand,  30';  soft  blue  mud,  135'.  At 
1,000'  the  well  flowed  salt  water;  there  was  much  gas,  but  no  valuable 
quantity  of  oil." 

1.3.17.  Between  the  rancho  La  Brea  and  the  hills  lying  south  of  the 


16  CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

rancho  La  Cienega,  a  number  of  other  wells  have  been  sunk,  ranging 
from  80'  to  200'  in  depth.  Sulphur  water  and  gas  have  been  found,  but 
no  valuable  quantity  of  oil, 

1.3.18.  Lookout  Mountain  well  is  550'  deep;  small  showing  of  oil. 
Abandoned  on  account  of  water;  the  water  is  said  to  be  potable. 

1.3.19.  Mcintosh  well,  near  the  corner  of  State  and  Mignonette 
streets,  is  1,025'  deep.  Formation,  soft  clayey  sandstone;  much  water 
near  the  bottom  of  the  well;  salt  water;  no  oil. 

1.3.20.  Mcintosh  well  is  near  the  corner  of  Bellevue  Avenue  and  Old 
Temple  road.  The  formation  penetrated  is,  adobe  soil,  3';  shale,  with 
seams  of  sand  and  black  earth,  80';  oil-sand,  with  small  vein  of  fresh 
water,  to  85';  shale,  with  strata  of  sand,  to  165';  soft  sandrock  and 
traces  of  oil,  to  190';  clayey  shale,  to  200';  casing  reduced  to  12^"; 
clayey  shale,  which  caved  badly,  to  315';  casing  reduced  to  10^";  hard 
white  stratum,  to  316';  hard  sandy  stratum,  with  water,  to  355';  soft 
bluish  clayey  shale  (,at  this  depth  the  water  was  cased  off),  to  406'; 
sand  and  oil,  to  432';  casing  reduced  to  8";  sand  and  oil,  to  462'; 
sand  and  shale,  to  470';  shale,  to  520';  sand  and  more  oil,  530'.  It  is 
said  that  at  this  depth  the  oil  rose  to  within  200'  of  the  top  of  the  well, 
and  that  in  one  afternoon  more  than  20  bbls.  of  oil  were  bailed  out  of 
the  well.  Sand,  with  fresh  water,  to  642';  shale,  662';  sandrock,  678'; 
hard  sandrock,  725';  shale,  to  743';  sand,  900';  shale,  904';  sandstone 
and  thin  strata  of  shale,  to  945';  sand  and  shale,  to  1,000';  at  996' 
the  casing  was  reduced  to  5|";  oil-sand  with  strata  of  shale,  1,004'. 
Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.21.  Near  River  Station.  Asphaltum  and  gas  were  struck  in  an 
80'  well  in  the  bed  of  the  Los  Angeles  River,  near  River  Station,  on  the 
S.  P.  R.  R. 

1.3.22.  Obar  well  is  on  the  south  end  of  the  Gould  &  Fletcher  tract, 
near  the  end  of  the  old  Elysian  Park  car-line;  is  7"  in  diameter.  For- 
mation: yellow  sandstone,  80';  hard  sandstone,  100';  dark-colored 
shale  and  clay,  alternating,  to  350'.  It  is  said  that  traces  of  oil  were 
found;  that  the  well  was  "torpedoed"  at  a  depth  of  80',  and  that  water 
rose  to  within  35'  of  the  surface. 

1.3.23.  Okell  &  Barber  well  is  southeast  of  the  corner  of  Bellevue 
Avenue  and  Old  Temple  road.  The  formation  is:  adobe  soil,  30'; 
(water);  soft  sandstone,  to  33';  shale,  with  oil,  to  90';  blue  shale,  to 
150';  (oil  at  110');  hard  stratum  to  158';  soft  sandstone,  180';  (fresh 
water);  soft  sandstone,  300'.     Abandoned  on  account  of  the  water. 

1.3.24.  Oregon  OiVCo.''s  loell  is  on  Vermont  Avenue  near  Barrow. 
Formation  penetrated:  soil,  6';  yellow  shale,  to  40';  blue  shale,  to  100'; 
alternate  strata  of  sand  and  shale,  to  189';  hard  sandstone,  to  209'.  It 
is  said  that  a  stratum  of  gravel  with  fresh  water  was  struck  at  100' 
depth.     This  well  is  said  to  be  abandoned. 

1.3.25.  Perkins  well  is  near  Jewell  and  Third  streets;  600' deep.  Salt 
water. 

1.3.26.  Polhemus  old  well  is  south  of  Bellevue  Avenue,  near  the 
Okell  &  Barber  well,  and  is  said  to  be  390'  deep.  It  was  drilled  in  an 
early  day,  and  yields  water  and  a  little  heavy  oil, 

1.3.27.  Thompson  Bros,  well  is  on  Morton  Street,  between  Geneva  and 
Mecca  avenues.  The  formation  is:  sand 'rock,  60';  sandy  and  clayey 
strata,  to  625';  thin  strata  of  oil-sand,  much  water. 

1.3.28.  Sisters^  Hospital  wells.     On  the  hill  east  of  the  hospital  are 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  17 

two  wells  800'  in  depth.     Abandoned  on  account  of  water,  which  is  said 
to  be  potable. 

1.3.29.  Union  Oil  Co.'s  well,  900'  deep,  is  southeast  of  the  corner  of 
First  and  Alvarado  streets.  An  oil-yielding  sand  was  struck  within  50' 
of  the  surface.  Below  that  depth,  soft,  sandy  formations  were  pene- 
trated, and  much  water  was  encountered;  at  520'  there  was  a  particu- 
larly strong  flow  of  water  and  gas.    Abandoned  on  account  of  water. 

1.3.30.  Villa  Tract  wells  are  near  Brooklyn  Heights.  These  wells 
were  drilled  several  years  ago.    In  one  a  small  amount  of  oil  was  struck. 

1.3.31.  Wilmot  tt  Holden  ivell,  on  Dr.  Long's  ranch  on  Prospect  Ave- 
nue, about  half  a  mile  east  of  Vermont  Avenue,  is  7"  in  diameter.  The 
formation  penetrated  is:  adobe,  12';  shale  and  sandstone,  nearly  all 
sandstone,  500'.  It  is  said  that  fresh  water  was  struck  at  40';  flowing 
water  and  a  little  oil  at  175'  depth.    This  well  appears  to  be  abandoned. 

1.3.32.  The  Wilshire  well  is  on  the  Wilshire  tract,  west  of  West 
Lake  Park.  Formation  is  soft,  sandy  strata,  490'  (at  this  depth  a  thin 
stratum  of  sand  was  penetrated,  which  yielded  a  heavy  oil);  soft  bitu- 
minous shale  to  a  depth  of  1,000'.  At  890'  in  depth,  salt  water  was 
struck,  which  rose  within  500'  of  the  top  of  the  well. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
Miscellaneous  Wells. 

1.4.01.  Benedict  Ranch.  Oil  was  struck  in  a  well  sunk  for  water  on 
the  Benedict  ranch  in  S.E.  i  of  N.W.  i  of  Sec.  14,  T.  1  S.,  R.  14  W., 
S.  B.  M. 

1.4.02.  Hellman  Ranch  gas  well  is  a  few  miles  southeast  of  Los  Angeles. 
It  yields  a  slightly  sulphureted  water,  through  which  inflammable  gas 
bubbles  freely.  This  was  at  one  time  used  in  the  ranch-house  for  heat- 
ing and  lighting. 

1.4.03.  Maier  &  Zoheleinh  two  ivells  are  1,100'  and  1,300'  deep,  respec- 
tively, and  are  on  Commercial  Street,  between  Garcia  and  Vignes  streets. 
The  formation  is  principally  blue  clay  and  quicksand;  a  little  water, 
but  no  oil. 

1.4.05.  Protestant  Orphans^  Home  well,  situated  in  the  northern  part 
of  Los  Angeles,  is  60'  deep.  In  this  well  gas  was  struck,  and  it  is  said 
to  have  burned  from  the  top  of  a  7"  casing  with  a  flame  over  6'  high  for 
more  than  an  hour. 

1.4.06.  Reynolds  &  Wiggin  well  is  on  the  Kercheval  tract,  near  the 
corner  of  Santa  Fe  Avenue  and  Grant  Street.  Formation:  gravel  and 
sand,  500';  stiff  clay  and  sandy  clay,  330'.  At  a  depth  of  800'  a  hard 
calcareous  stratum  was  penetrated.  From  this  well  some  fossils  were 
obtained.  (See  table  of  fossils.)  This  well  was  not  completed  in  July, 
1896. 

1.4.07.  Rosencrantz  gas  well,  135'  deep,  is  about  11  miles  south  of  Los 
Angeles.  It  was  drilled  in  1886  ( ?),  and  is  said  to  have  yielded  a  strong 
flow  of  gas  when  first  drilled;  in  1896  the  well  was  nearly  full  of  water, 
and  yielded  some  gas.     See  our  Vllth  Report,  p.  79. 

1.4.08.  United  States  Hotel  well  at  Los  Angeles  was  drilled  in  1883. 
The  formation  penetrated  is:  gravel  and  surface  soil,  40';  bluish  clay 
shale  to  a  depth  of  900'  (inflammable  gas).  On  the  completion  of  the 
well,  brackish  water  rose  to  within  20'  of  the  top  of  the  well. 


18  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

CHAPTER  V. 

The  Puente  Oil-Wells. 

1.5.01.  The  hills  in  which  the  Puente  oil-wells  are  situated  appear 
to  be  an  east  extension  of  a  line  of  elevation  which  can  be  traced  in  a 
southeasterly  direction  from  the  City  of  Los  Angeles.  These  hills,  as 
seen  at  the  Puente  oil-wells,  are  formed  by  a  series  of  closely  compressed 
folds  in  the  rocky  formation,  which  have  an  east  and  west  trend.  At 
the  base  of  these  hills  soft  sandstones  and  conglomerates  are  found, 
and  in  some  places  a  white,  chalk-like,  diatomaceous  rock,  similar  to 
that  seen  at  Los  Angeles,  alternates  with  reddish-brown  sandy  strata, 
forming  parti-colored  banks,  in  which  the  strata  vary  from  a  few  inches 
to  less  than  an  inch  in  thickness.  A  small  collection  of  fossils  was 
obtained  from  these  formations,  which  show  a  preponderance  of  Plio- 
cene forms. 

1.5.02.  The  higher  portions  of  the  Puente  Hills  are  composed  of  both 
hard  and  soft  sandstones  and  shales,  and  these  rocks  are  often  separated 
by  hard  calcareous  strata.  Were  it  not  for  the  latter  it  would  be  very 
difficult  to  learn  much  about  the  stratigraphy  of  the  Puente  Hills,  for 
the  soft  rocks  readily  disintegrate  and  become  covered  with  alluvium, 
while  the  hard  calcareous  strata  resist  the  action  of  the  elements  and, 
in  many  places,  afford  the  only  clue  to  the  dip  of  the  formation.  These 
hard  calcareous  rocks,  and  the  sandstones  and  shales  associated  with 
them,  are  evidently  older  and  are  more  disturbed  than  the  soft  sand- 
stones and  conglomerates  previously  mentioned.  The  only  organisms 
noted  in  these  hard  calcareous  rocks  are  the  bones  and  scales  of  fish, 
and  a  few  carbonized  plant-remains.  There  has  been  so  much  geolog- 
ical disturbance  in  the  Puente  Hills  that  it  renders  the  locality  an 
unfavorable  one  for  estimating  the  thickness  of  the  formations  named, 
and  it  also  prevents  a  definite  conclusion  being  formed  as  to  the  con- 
formity or  non-conformity  of  the  older  and  the  more  recent  strata. 

1.5.03.  The  formations  at  the  base  of  the  Puente  Hills  contain  fos- 
siliferous  strata,  and  a  small  collection  of  fossils  was  obtained  therefrom 
in  Brea  Canon.     They  show  the  following  range: 

Living,  Quaternary 1 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene 5 

Living,  Quaternary,  I'liocene,  Miocene 11 

Quaternary .". _ I 

Pliocene 1 

Quaternary,  Pliocene,  Miocene - 1 

Pliocene,  Miocene 4 

Miocene c 1 

1.5.04.  In  that  portion  of  the  Puente  Hills  which  is  under  discus- 
sion, petroleum  is  found  at  the  Puente  oil-wells  and  at  Brea  Caiion. 
(See  map.  Fig.  32.) 

1.5.05.  The  Puente  oil-wells,  as  described  in  our  Vllth  Report,  are 
situated  on  Puente  Gulch,  and  are  about  5  miles  distant  in  a  south- 
easterly direction  from  Puente  station,  on  the  S.  P.  R.  R.,  and  about  6 
miles  distant  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  Fullcrton,  on  the  San 
Diego  branch  of  S.  C.  Ry.  They  consist  of  twenty-five  oil-producing 
wells,  a  water-well,  and  a  few  non-productive  wells.  Their  depth  varies 
from  700'  to  1,750',  and  the  total  yield  is  about  300  bbls.  of  oil  a  day. 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS    ANGELES    COUNTY.  19 

Sixteen  of  them  are  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Puente  Gulch,  two  in 
the  gulch,  and  the  remainder  southeast  of  it.     (See  Fig.  3.) 

1.5.06.  Investigation  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  the  Puente  Gulch 
has  been  worn  along  the  axis  of  a  fold,  for  the  strata  immediately  north 
of  the  gulch,  with  a  few  exceptions,  dip  in  a  northerly  direction,  while 
those  immediately  south  of  the  gulch  dip  in  a  southerly  direction. 

1.5.07.  At  the  northeast  end  of  Puente  Gulch,  the  scanty  rock 
exposures  indicate  that  the  formation  is  crumpled  into  two  short  anti- 
clinal folds.  It  is  probable  that  these  folds  are  represented  by  faults 
at  no  great  distance  beneath  the  surface,  and  that  they  coalesce  in  one 
main  fold  in  Puente  Canon. 

1.5.08.  The  table  on  page  20  shows  the  depth,  life,  and  the  character 
of  the  oil  the  Puente  wells  yield. 

1.5.09.  In  1895,  the  Puente  Oil  Co.  drilled  two  wells,  which  are  dis- 
tant respectively  about  half  a  mile  and  a  mile  in  a  southeasterly  direc- 
tion from  Puente  Gulch.  Although  a  depth  of  more  than  1,000'  was 
reached,  they  proved  practically  dry  holes,  and  were  abandoned.  The 
formation  penetrated  by  these  dry  wells  resembles  that  pierced  by  the 
oil-wells  in  Puente  Gulch,  which  shows  that  the  probabilities  as  to 
striking  a  remunerative  deposit  of  petroleum  depend,  not  only  on  the 
position  of  the  rocks  prospected  in  point  of  vertical  range,  but  largely 
on  the  attending  structural  conditions.  Subsequently,  two  wells  were 
drilled  east  of  the  oil-wells  in  the  Puente  Gulch  and  in  a  line  with  the 
strike  of  the  formation  which  previous  drilling  had  shown  to  contain  oil 
in  valuable  quantities.  It  is  said  that  these  wells  are  very  remunera- 
tive. Some  of  the  wells  at  Puente  yield  sufficient  gas  to  be  of  local 
value.  It  is  used  beneath  the  steam-boilers  and  for  domestic  purposes. 
Some  of  the  oil  is  effervescent  with  gas  when  it  is  brought  to  the  surface. 

1.5.10.  The  Puente  Oil  Co.  owns  two  pipe-lines.  One  is  a  2"  line  and  8 
miles  in  length;  it  connects  the  Puente  oil-wells  with  Puente  station,  on 
the  S.  P.  R.  R.  The  other  is  a  3"  line  and  15  miles  in  length,  and  con- 
nects the  Puente  oil-wells  with  the  refinery  belonging  to  the  Puente  Oil 
Co.  at  Chino,  in  San  Bernardino  County. 

1.5.11.  Nearly  2  miles  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from  the  Puente 
oil-wells  is  Brea  Caiion,  where  there  are  seepages  of  heavy  oil.  Between 
these  two  places  a  spur  of  hills  extends  to  the  southwest.  On  the  north 
side  of  Brea  Cafion  a  formation  is  exposed,  which  is  elsewhere  men- 
tioned as  being  characteristic  of  the  Pliocene  formations  at  Los  Angeles. 
It  consists  of  thin  strata  of  soft,  white,  chalk-like  diatomaceous  rock, 
which  alternate  with  thin  strata  of  reddish-brown  sand.  This  forma- 
tion dips  N.  17°  E.  at  an  angle  of  35",  and  appears  to  rest  somewhat  non- 
conformably  on  a  soft  sandstone  containing  numerous  white  particles. 
The  soft  sandstone  rests  on  conglomerate  and  the  conglomerate  on 
micaceous  sandstone,  which  dips  N.  25°  E.  at  an  angle  of  65°.  The 
white  and  red  formation,  the  soft  sandstone  and  the  conglomerate, 
appear  to  rest  nearly,  but  not  quite,  conformably  on  one  another.  On 
the  south  side  of  Brea  Canon  are  soft  sandstones  and  conglomerates 
very  similar  to  those  last  mentioned;  but  they  are  more  or  less  impreg- 
nated with  petroleum,  and  show  a  dip  of  S.  20°  W.  at  an  angle  of  70°. 
A  short  distance  farther  south  the  dip  is  due  south  at  an  angle  of  about 
40°.  Along  the  south  side  of  Brea  Canon  there  is  a  series  of  seepages  of 
heavy  oil  which  has  a  course  of  S.  78°  W.,  and  this  direction  conforms 
to  that  of  the  axis  of  the  anticline  on  which  the  oil  seepages  are  situated. 


20 


CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


05 
00 


05 

o 
w 

Q 
go" 

I 


H 

><; 

O 

o 

o 
o 


00 

a 

Much  gas. 
Much  gas. 
Much  gas. 

^luch  gas. 
Some  gas. 
Some  gas. 
Little  gas. 
Some  gas. 
Some  gas. 

Little  gas. 

Not  much  gas  down  1,300' 

(ias. 

(Jas. 

Gas. 

.M  uch  gas. 

Much  gas. 

Depth  where  Water 
was  Cased  Off... 

.      iiiiiii OOTiiMi"*iOOOii           1 

*J      '      1      1     '     1     1 1  O  (M      1     1  »     1  C-l  M  1-  O      1     '           ' 

H •      '             •                                •      I             I 

fe    ;    ;    ;    ;    ;    j    ;    ;    ;    ;    ;    ;           ;   ;       ;                  ;    ;       ; 

Decrease  in  Yield 
per  Annum 

o    •    .   ■ 

5       •       '       1                 r-l.-(       1                 (N          r-1  r-1       '  .-I  55  rt  C<1  CO  C»  (M  lO  CO          SO 

n 

go 

o 

rt  cs_;_;             ^                            ^                                   _• 

t^  1-^  1»»  t».o    o    o     &-.0    o    o    o    o    o    o     t»,o    OOOOOOO           K., 

C  C  C^  C'o  o  o  Co  o  o  lo  o  o  o  r'o  mo>oioicio>o      r* 

C3    C3    TO    C3                         C3                                                       C3                                                                     TO 
V   O   O   Q^                     ^                                              O                                                          Cj 

K  K  K  »-iH                        W                                                     h^H                                                                    HH          ' 

DailyYieldinl894. 

_m  ITS  uo  r~                       lO                                                 lO 
.QOC>C>lOCO«DeOr-(l.OlOCOlO-<J<CDlO-*lOT)i(MiCC>u:)OI«   tioo 

Daily  Yield  when 
Completed 

m    I    i    ioioioin    'lOinioicosaJOiOWC'iooiMOi.':'".'}  ^ao 

■S      1      1      i.HN<MCO      lCCrHCOCOi-li-lr-irt.-n-lCl»>— lOC-IC-lS 

Depth  of  Principal 

Oil-Yielding 

Strata. 

:  1  1        o  I                                     a 

■w      1     1     >ooo  S     ■OOOiftOWiOOOOOOOOOO  o<=> 
O      1      1      ■moOlOo      iCOOOCDOMCO'M00005'TiOXOiiC3 

fi,     1     1    1               ^J    1                                                                         .^ 

1  ;  :         5  1                                         "3 

I    1    1              in    1                                                                  fc 

Depth  at 

which  Oil  was 

Struck. 

.     .     .                                                                                                             •*-* 
0)  Ol   <1>                                                                                                                                   O 
O   O  O                                                                                                                                   R 

cd  ^  ^ 
u^  «*-  (.H                                                                                                             __;* 

*i  b  !^  trooiftiooioooiftowiftoooooioooo'^o 
(u  3  P  Dmioaoa)-iri-oo»0(MX<Mi.or-ot~c-ii030oo  Oo 

"     U     t<     tH                                                                                                                                                                                                    > 

ea  cS  ol                                                                                                         cj 
a>  a>  a>                                                                                           v 

Depth 

t^OOOO'MOt^      'IftiOlOOiOOOOO-^OCOOiCuOOOO 
9}  lO  lO  O  I--  O  lO  ?D      '  1^  1^  CC  tr  CI  -.O  —  rf  —  O  O  — «  C  C'J  tC  C^  (M  C-1 

«      (M  CO  CT>  c-i_i-  oo    1  oc  o_oj  o_ai  02 1-  — _t^  ■»_oo  ci_x  — ,^_«  T^i, 

Year  when  Com- 
pleted             .  - 

;  ;  :                     °P5  i 

1      1      ilOtOt— h-00005-JOOI~CO      ■O5iM0CC-lC-ie-1'M-»'eOC«rr5 

1     1     i-jCooooooooosoooiooxoo     <  a^  a  oo  Cj  a  <j>  3:  a:  a:  C:  Oi 
1     1     IX0OX0O0O3UXO00OCCCC     iooxocxj:  xoc^.  ocxjo 

Diameter  of  Casing 

CO          mirto-r'ni^x.-T'Trioia'^iffi'viCcotocO'CiCicio    '-^ 
S          oooooooooooooooooooooo    !o 

O               -i->  *J +J  *J -.-  ♦J  ■.- *J  ♦J  *J  *J  «J -M -t-. -M  ♦J  ^->  *J  *J  ♦J  *J  »J      ,  *J 

^lOlOOO  CI  M  C-1 -l'-t<-r-*-«<-l<— 'Mf'T-^-*-^  CI  MM  -*••>!«<      tc< 
.-^.-H.— I.-H  —  ^-i-H^I^H^-^i^-lii.— (.-If— «.1i-H— 1.1.— <       '^H 

Number  of  Well... 

rtC<C0'*»0«0t^Cmc0CCC1XOa)-f0C-<OC0-'C)r^cC-ri0 

_._,rti-i.-i          i-irHrtT-ic<cqNe^c-ie-i(Nci 

OIL   AND   GAS   YIELDING    FORMATIONS — LOS   ANGELES   COUNTY.  21 

1.5.12.  The  brea,  or  impure  asphaltum  and  oil-soakcd  earth,  which 
is  exposed  on  Brea  Canon,  is  sometimes  mined  for  fuel.  At  one  point 
an  excavation  has  been  made,  and  a  tunnel  run  a  short  "distance  in  the 
brea.     The  excavation  is  filled  with  water,  and  heavy  oil  floating  on  it. 

1.5.13.  Several  years  ago  two  or  three  wells  (the  Chandler  wells) 
were  sunk,  about  4  miles  southeast  of  the  Puente  oil-wells.  They  pene- 
trate a  formation  similar  to  that  seen  in  Brea  Canon,  and  are  said  to  be 
200'  or  300'  deep.  In  December,  1894,  they  appeared  to  be  abandoned. 
It  is  said  that  they  yielded  2  or  3  bbls.  of  heavy  oil  a  day  by  pumping. 
Around  the  wells  are  seepages  of  heavy  oil  and  deposits  of  brea.  This 
brea  can  be  traced  from  the  Chandler  wells  for  a  distance  of  nearly  2 
miles  to  the  most  western  oil  seepages  in  Brea  Caiion. 

1.5.14.  No  one  who  has  compared  the  geological  formation  in  Brea 
Canon  and  the  geological  formation  in  the  western  portion  of  Los 
Angeles  can  fail  to  notice  their  great  resemblance  in  lithological  char- 
acter; but  the  collection  of  fossils  from  Brea  Canon  indicates  a  some- 
what greater  age  than  does  the  collection  made  at  Los  Angeles.  One 
Miocene  fossil  was  obtained  from  oil-soaked  strata  near  the  axis  of  the 
fold  on  which  the  oil  seepages  in  Brea  Canon  are  situated. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  districts  in  which  the  following  oil-wells  are  situated  have  not  yet 
been  visited: 

1.6.01.  Bluett  &  Mullen  wells.  Their  oil  claims  comprise  about  3,000 
acres,  and  are  in  the  Palomares  mining  district,  about  4  miles  north  of 
Castac.     One  well  was  400'  deep  and  incomplete  in  May,  1896. 

1.6.02.  Central  Oil  Cogswells.  This  Los  Angeles  company  has  leased 
3,000  acres  of  land  about  1  mile  north  of  Whittier.  In  April,  1896,  one 
well  had  been  drilled  to  700'  in  depth,  penetrating  at  a  depth  of  520'  a 
stratum  of  oil-sand. 

1.6.03.  Pico  oil-wells.  These  are  situated  in  what  is  commonly 
known  as  the  Pico  Canon  oil- field,  which  is  about  7  miles  from  Newhall. 
There  are  about  thirty-five  wells  in  Pico  Canon,  one  in  Elsmere  Canon, 
and  one  in  Wylie  Canon.  These  wells  vary  from  650'  to  1,700'  in  depth. 
(See  our  Xth  Report,  p.  283.)  The  output  of  these  wells  during  1895 
was  about  150,000  bbls. 

1  6.04.  Union  Oil  Co.  has  leased,  and  is  prospecting  territory  west 
of  the  Puente  oil-wells.  It  is  said  that  it  has  struck  oil-sand  in  a  well 
drilled  there. 

1.6.05.     Petroleum  Statistics  of  Los  Angeles  County  for  the  year  1895  : 

Bbls.  Value. 

Los  Angeles  oil-wells  yielded 729,695  $437,817 

Puente  oil-wells  yielded -- -...    ICXi.UOO  100,000 

Pico  oil-wells  yielded .- 150,000  195,000 

Total .— 979,695         $732,817 


22 


CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


P»^liT  II. 


VENTURA  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Geology,  Districts,  Wells,  Etc. 

2.1.01.  The  best  opportunity  of  studying  the  geology  of  the  petroleum- 
yielding  formations  on  the  north  side  of  Santa  Clara  River  is  found  in 
the  Sespe  oil  district  and  vicinity.     The  territory  commonly  known  as 


Appro/imat'e    6cale 


HOPf/ZOf^TJ^l.. 


y£f^T/C^i., 


o 

M 


>mil««. 


I  mile. 


Fig.  8.    Cross-Skction  Through  Devil's  (Jatk  Mining  Disnucr. 

the  Sespe  district  is  in  the  r-ange  of  mountains  which  borders  the  valley 
of  Santa  Clara  River  on  the  north.  This  territory  comprises  the  Little 
Sespe  and  the  Devil's  Gate  oil-mining  districts.  It  includes  the  drainage 
basins  of  the  Little  Sespe,  Pine,  Cold  Water,  Tar,  Stony  Corral,  and 
Alder  creeks.  These  streams  are  tributaries  of  Sespe  River,  which  flows 
through  the  center  of  the  territory  referred  to.  The  Sespe  and  its  tribu- 
taries are  torrential  during  the  rainy  season,  and  their  channels  have  a 
grade  of  150'  to  more  than  600'  to  the  mile.  They  run  through  deep 
canons,  and  their  channels  are  strewn  with  huge  masses  of  water-worn 
rock.  The  rocks  exposed  in  the  Sespe  district  are  principally  hard  sand- 
stones and  dark-colored  shales  of  the  Eocene  period,  which  have  been 
denuded  of  more  recent  Tertiary  formations;  the  latter  form  a  ridge, 
which  traverses  the  eastern  side  of  the  Sespe  district;  they  also  consti- 


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OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY.  Zo 

tule  a  great  portion  of  the  foothills  which  lie  between  the  Sespe  district 
and  the  valley  of  Santa  Clara  Ivivor. 

2.1.02.  The  ridge  referred  to  forms  a  divide  between  the  Sespe  and  its 
tributaries  on  the  west,  and  Pole  Canon,  Hopper,  and  Piru  creeks  on  the 
east. 

2.1.03.  The  rocks  of  the  Sespe  district  constitute  portions  of  two 
anticlinal  folds.  (See  Fig.  8.)  One  of  these  folds  traverses  the  northern 
part  of  this  territory. 

In  the  Sespe  district  the  most  elevated  portion  of  this  fold  is  locally 
known  as  Redstone  Peak.  Its  axis  can  be  traced  with  a  course  of  about 
N.  50°  W.  from  station  A  (see  map,  Fig.  33),  on  the  ridge  which,  as 
before  mentioned,  traverses  the  eastern  side  of  the  Sespe  district,  through 
the  group  of  oil-wells  at  Tar  Creek,  along  the  northern  slope  of  Redstone 
Peak,  across  Sespe  Creek,  and  thence  to  some  point  north  of  Mount 
Topo  Topa.  For  convenience  this  fold  is  referred  to  as  the  Redstone  Peak 
anticline.  It  is  an  unsymmetrical  fold,  and  in  the  Sespe  district  the 
dip  of  the  rocks  forming  it  has  a  tendency  to  swing  around  its  axis.  On 
the  northern  slope  of  this  fold  the  dip  varies  from  N.  45°  E.  to  N.  70°  E., 
and  on  the  south  slope,  from  S.  45°  E.  to  S.  70°  E.  As  this  fold  extends 
westward  it  appears  to  be  much  more  symmetrical  than  it  is  in  the 
Sespe  district. 

2.1.04.  The  other  fold  is  also  very  unsymmetrical,  its  southern  slope 
being  much  steeper  than  its  northern.  It  has  a  course  of  about  S.  85° 
W.,  and  can  be  traced  from  station  B  (see  map.  Fig.  33),  about  half  a 
mile  east  of  the  well  of  the  California  Oil  Co.,  to  the  mountains  at  the 
east  end  of  Ojai  Valley;  at  its  eastern  extremity  the  dip  of  the  Eocene 
rocks  forming  this  fold  swing  around  the  axis  of  the  fold,  and  it  ranges 
from  S.  10°  E.  to  N.  70°  E.  The  axis  of  this  fold  is  well  exposed  at  the 
head  of  Cold  Water  Canon.  For  convenience  this  fold  is  referred  to  as 
the  Cold  Water  anticline.     (See  Fig.  25.) 

2.1.05.  Farther  eastward  the  more  recent  Tertiary  strata  seem  to 
iDelong  to  the  southern  slope  of  the  Redstone  Peak  anticline,  although 
on  the  summit  of  Four  Forks  Peak  and  on  the  south  fork  of  Tar  Creek 
there  are  some  rocks  which  dip  to  the  east.  In  the  syncline  between 
the  two  folds,  and  in  some  places  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Redstone 
Peak  fold,  the  angle  of  the  dip  is  abnormally  low.  It  is  evident  that 
the  Cold  Water  anticline  dies  out  in  the  Sespe  district,  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  the  Redstone  Peak  anticline  dies  out  at  some  point  not  very 
much  farther  to  the  eastward. 

2.1.06.  An  idea  of  the  structure  of  the  western  portion  of  the  Sespe 
district  can  be  obtained  by  referring  to  Fig.  8,  showing  cross-section 
from  station  C  on  the  east  peak  of  Mount  Cayetana  through  Cold  Water 
Peak  to  a  point  on  the  ridge  which  runs  N.  70°  W.  from  Redstone  Peak. 

2.1.07.  The  relative  geological  position  of  the  rocks  penetrated 
by  the  oil-wells  in  the  Sespe  district,  and  the  rocks  penetrated  by 
the  oil-wells  at  Sulphur  Mountains  and  in  Sisar  Valley,  cannot  be 
understood  without  mastering  the  structure  of  Mount  Cayetana,  a  mass 
of  Eocene  sandstone  which  rises  between  Sespe  and  Santa  Paula 
canons.  (See  Figs.  6  and  25.)  On  the  northern  side  of  Cayetana  a 
strike  fault  extends  from  Sespe  Cailon  to  the  head  of  Ojai  Valley.  It 
passes  a  short  distance  south  of  the  axis  of  the  Cold  Water  Canon  anti- 
cline. In  many  places  its  course  is  marked  by  a  trough  which  has  a 
■course  nearly  coinciding  with  the  strike  of  the  formation.     This  fault 

3-M 


24  CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

can  be  observed  in  Santa  Paula  Creek,  a  short  distance  north  of  the* 
point  marked  "Alexander's,"  in  See.  10,  T.  5  N.,  R.  21  W.,  S.  B.  M.;  the 
upthrow  is  to  the  south;  and  at  the  head  of  Pine  Creek  tlie  Sespo 
brownstone  has  been  brought  into  contact  with  the  buff-colored  Eocene 
sandstone.  The  east  fork  of  Santa  Paula  Creek  has  cut  its  way  partly 
through  the  rocks  which  have  been  shattered  by  this  fault  and  partly 
along  the  axis  of  the  Cold  Water  anticline.  On  the  northern  bank  of 
this  stream,  the  whitish  sandstone  underlying  the  Sespe  brownstone  is 
exposed. 

2.1.08.  East  of  Sespe  Creek  this  fault  splits  and  forms  a  fault  which 
extends  eastward  and  passes  a  short  distance  south  of  the  well  of  tbu 
California  Oil  Co.  and  a  fault  which  crosses  the  Sespe  River  a  short 
distance  above  the  mouth  of  Little  Sespe  Creek. 

2.1.09.  A  reconnaissance  southward  of  Mount  Cayetana  leads  to  the 
conclusion  that  a  fault  traverses  the  southern  base  of  that  mountain 
with  a  course  which  is  nearly  coincident  with  the  strike  of  the  for- 
mation. This  fault  is  marked  by  a  line  of  springs,  a  few  seepages  of  oil, 
and,  in  some  places,  by  the  crushed  and  broken  nature  of  the  rocks. 
The  upthrow  appears  to  be  to  the  north,  for  the  hard,  buff-colored  Eocene 
sandstones  of  Mount  Cayetana  are  nearly  in  contact  with  formations  in 
the  foothills  which  contain  Miocene  and  Pliocene  fossils.  West  of  Santa 
Paula  Creek  this  fault  splits,  one  fault  passes  up  Sisar  Valley,  one  along 
the  southern  Hank  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  and  probably  a  third 
extends  through  the  center  of  the  eastern  end  of  Sulphur  Mountains. 

2.1.10.  A  reconnaissance  northward  of  the  Sespe  district  and  toward 
the  head  of  Agua  Blanca  Creek  showed  a  fold  still  north  of  the  one 
noted  at  Redstone  Peak.  The  formations  composing  this  most  northern 
fold  resemble  those  seen  in  the  Sespe  district,  and  rocks  physically 
resembling  the  hard  Eocene  sandstones  are  in  contact  with  the  granite 
rocks  of  the  Alamo  Mountains.  These  sandstones  appear  to  be  more 
crushed  and  metamorphosed  than  they  are  in  the  Sespe  district. 

2.1.11.  From  the  foregoing  it  is  apparent  that  the  geological  struct- 
ure of  the  territory  under  discussion  presents  a  series  of  closely 
compressed  anticlinal  folds.  These  folds  are  modified  by  faults,  the 
most  important  of  which  have  a  course  which  is  nearly  coincident  with 
the  strike  of  the  formations  they  traverse.  The  most  numerous  faults, 
especially  in  the  hardest  rocks,  are  dip-faults;  but  they  are  usually  of 
minor  importance.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  the  course  of  some  of 
the  principal  canons  has  been  determined  by  dip-faults.  In  a  few 
places  lateral  thrusts  locally  complicate  the  stratigraphy.  Rightly  to 
differentiate  the  rocks  of  this,  or  any  other  territory,  it  is  necessary  to 
trace  the  folds  and  the  principal  faults.  It  is  not  easy  to  do  this  in 
every  instance.  The  chief  obstacles  are  the  alluvium  in  the  foothills, 
and  the  dense  brush  and  rocky  debris  in  the  higher  elevations.  Fig.  8 
shows  the  mountain  structure  along  a  line  extending  northward  from 
the  eastern  peak  of  Mount  Cayetana,  through  the  Devil's  Gate  oil-min- 
ing district,  to  the  ridge  which  runs  N.  70°  W.  from  Redstone  Peak. 
It  shows  the  eastern  peak  of  Mount  Cayetana,  the  Cold  Water  anticline,, 
and  the  southern  slope  of  Redstone  Peak. 


r^/« 


r-M 


^v" 


Fig.  9.    Slaty  Shale,  Sulphur  Mountains. 


^^^^3^>.i4 


-  V  —'"'■•■■ 


m 


Fk;.  10.    Dark-Colored  Shale,  Tak  Cukkk,  .'-^ksik  District. 


OIL    AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTUKA    COUNTY.  25 

SESPE    DISTRICT. 

2.1.12.  The  most  recent  Tertiary  formation  in  the  Sespe  district  con- 
sists of  sandstone  strata,  whitish  to  yellowish  in  color,  usually  rather 
fine-grained,  and  the  exposed  surfaces  vary  from  soft  and  friable  to 
moderately  hard.  These  sandstones  resemble  those  which  are  situated 
and  extend  north  from  the  head  of  Pole  Creek  Canon.  Their  physical 
character  corresponds  to  that  of  the  whitish  sandstone  exposed  at  the 
base  of  Mount  Cayetana  and  to  certain  sandstones  on  Ventura  River,  as 
hereinafter  noted.  At  the  last  two  places  named  they  contain  Miocene 
and  Pliocene  fossils. 

2.1.13.  As  before  mentioned,  these  sandstones  and  certain  shales  on 
which  they  rest  form  a  ridge  of  mountains  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Sespe  district.  This  formation  terminates  abruptly  at  the  point  marked 
*'  North  end  of  white  sandstone  ridge."  A  good  place  for  inspecting  this 
sandstone  is  below  Oak  Tree  Point.  There  it  rests  apparently  conform- 
ably on  bleached  calcareo-silicious  shale,  much  of  which  exhibits  a  slaty 
cleavage  like  that  seen  at  the  Sulphur  Mountains  (  Fig.  9  )  as  here- 
after described.  This  conformity  can  also  be  observed  in  Pole  Creek 
Caiion,  but  at  that  place  the  slaty  shale  is  very  silicious.  These  bleached 
slaty  shales  rest  apparently  conformably  on  strata  of  grayish  sandstone 
which  are  of  no  great  thickness,  and  which  rest  conformably  on  dark- 
colored  shales.  The  latter  are  traversed  by  thin  strata  of  hard  bitum- 
inous limestone  and  by  strata  consisting  of  nodular  masses  of  limestone. 
(See  Fig.  10.)  The  upper  portion  of  this  shale  exhibits  a  slaty  cleavage, 
and  bleaches  on  exposure.  In  some  places  there  are  spots  where  this 
shale  has  been  bleached  apparently  by  the  action  of  gas.  The  lower 
portion  of  this  dark-colored  shale  is  somewhat  sandy,  and  the  limestone 
strata  which  traverse  it  are  fossiliferous.  Although  these  fossils  are 
rather  poorly  preserved,  a  small  collection  of  them  was  made.  (See  table 
of  fossils.) 

2.1.14.  Reference  to  this  table  shows  that  the  vertical  range  of  the 
fossils  obtained  from  this  formation  at  Tar  Creek  and  on  the  divide 
between  Tar  and  Maple  creeks  is: 

Eocene  ( heretofore  classed  as  Cretaceous  B),  Tej  on.. 9 

Miocene 4 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene,  Miocene 2 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene .-.  3 

Undetermined 2 

It  is  obvious  that  these  dark-colored  shales  must  be  regarded  as  tran- 
sition beds  between  the  Miocene  and  Eocene  formations. 

2.1.15.  The  physical  characteristics  of  these  dark-colored  shales  and 
of  the  slaty  shales  overlying  them  resemble  those  of  the  dark-colored 
shales  and  bleached  slaty  shales  on  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  and  of  the 
dark-colored  shales  exposed  at  points  where  the  foothills  are  cut  through 
by  the  Sespe  River  and  Pole  Creek  Canon.  These  shales  rest  appar- 
ently conformably  on  drab  sandstone,  which  is  of  no  great  thickness. 

2.1.16.  The  lowermost  portions  of  these  dark-colored  shales,  and 
probably  the  drab  sandstones  underlying  them,  constitute  the  uppermost 
oil-yielding  formations  in  the  Sespe  district.  (See  Fig.  11.)  The  drab 
sandstone  rests  apparently  conformably  on  the  Sespe  brownstone  forma- 
tion ;  at  least  no  marked  non-conformity  was  observed.  The  Sespe  brown- 
stone  formation  consists  of  sandstone  shales  and  conglomerate — all  being 


26 


CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


more  or  less  brown  in  color.  The  Sespe  brownstone  is  a  sandstone  which  is 
valuable  as  structural  material.  (See  Fig.  14.)  It  is  somewhat  exten- 
sively quarried  by  Messrs.  llenly  and  tlie  Mentone  Brownstone  (.'ompany. 
In  the  Sespe  district,  a  wide  outcrop  of  this  sandstone  has  been  exposed 
by  denudation,  the  greatest  mass  being  in  the  syncline  between  Redstone 
Peak  and  the  Cold  Water  anticline.  This  is  the  case  especially  on  the 
western  bank  of  Sespe  Creek,  where  huge  ledges  of  good  building-stone 
are  exposed,  and  there  are  many  loose  slabs  which  exceed  30'x30'xl0' 
in  dimension.  (See  Fig.  14.)  The  best  building-stone  appears  to  con- 
stitute the  upper  portion  of  this  brown-sandstone  formation,  and  there  are 
said  to  be  several  ledges  of  it  which  aggregate  about  200'  in  thickness. 
Although  this  stone  is  generally  known  as  the  Sespe  brownstone,  and 

■4 


5(^ALe 


,milai 


Fig.  13.    Ceoss-Sbction,  Rkdstonb  Peak  to  Agua  Blanca  Ckbek,  Skspe  District. 

much  of  it  is  of  a  dark-brown  color;  more  correctly  speaking,  it  varies 
from  reddish  brown  to  brownish  or  bluish  black. 

2.1.17.  The  breadth  of  outcrop  of  this  brownstone  formation  is  2  miles. 
It  rests  apparently  conformably  on  a  hard  white  silicious  sandstone,  which 
is  composed  mainly  of  white  quartz  granules  and  forms  a  striking  con- 
trast with  the  brownstone  as  seen  on  the  southern  slope  of  Redstone 
Peak.  On  the  summit  of  Redstone  Peak  numerous  specimens  of  Ostrea 
idriaensis  were  obtained.  The  brown  and  the  white  sandstone  are  also 
exposed  at  Stone  Corral  Creek  and  the  north  fork  of  Sespe  River. 

2.1.18.  This  white  sandstone  rests  apparently  conformably  on  a  hard 
buff-colored  sandstone,  which  usually  shows  a  calcareous  reaction  and 
contains  numerous  Eocene  (heretofore  classified  as  Cretaceous  B) 
fossils.  (See  table  of  fossils.)  Also,  numerous  peculiar  cylindrical 
forms,  which  are  believed  by  Dr.  J.  G.  Cooper  to  have  been  sponges. 
This  hard  sandstone  forms  the  main  portion  of  Mount  Cayetana;  it  is 
exposed  at  many  places  along  the  Cold  Water  anticline,  and  for  tlie 
most  part  it  constitutes  the  walls  of  Sespe  Canon.  Several  springs  of 
petroleum  and  mineral  water  flow  from  it. 

2.1.19.  On  the  Redstone  Peak  anticline,  where  its  axis  is  cut  through 
by  the  north  fork  of  Sespe  River,  there  are  springs  of  warm  mineral 
water,  which  also  yield  a  little  oil,  and  at  several  other  places  petro- 
leum exudes  from  faults  and  fissures  in  this  hard  Eocene  sandstone. 

2.1.20.  On  the  Cold  Water  anticline  there  are  oil-springs  in  the  hard 
Eocene  sandstone  at  the  following  places:  At  the  well  of  the  California 
Oil  Co.;  in  two  canons  between  the  well  of  the  California  Oil  Co.  and 


Fit;.  11.    ()il-\Vell8  on  Tak  (keek,  Se.spk  Di«tkut. 


S 


-'^tf^'Tjfir 


"s: 


Fig.  V2.    Seepages  of  He.wv  oii.  i-kom  Kockne  Sandstone,  Noktii  ok  the 

Silvekthkead  Wells. 


OIL    AND   GAS    YIEr.DING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY.  27 

the  Sespe  River;  at  Tar  Hole,  a  short  distance  above  the  Devil's  Gate, 
on  the  Sespe  River;  in  Echo  Canon,  west  of  Santa  Paula  Creek  and 
north  of  the  Silverthread  oil-wells.     (See  Fig.  12.) 

2.1.21.  A  reconnaissance  to  Agua  Rlanca  Creek  showed  that  the 
whitish  sandstone  mentioned  first,  in  speaking  of  the  Sespe  formations, 
is  overlaid  ))y  conglomerate  which  rests  conformably  upon  the  sand- 
stone. By  far  the  best  sequence  of  rock  exposure  in  the  Sespe  district 
can  be  observed  along  a  lino  running  eastward  from  Redstone  Peak 
toward  Piru  and  Agua  Blanca  creeks.  Observation  along  the  line 
indicated  warrants  the  conclusion  that  all  the  formations  there  exposed 
rest  practically  conformably  on  one  another;  at  least  no  marked  uncon- 
formal)ility  was  observed.  This  apparent  conformability  is  somewhat 
remarkable,  because  in  other  places  in  California  Miocene  formations 
have  been  observed  resting  non-conformably  on  the  Eocene  rocks. 
The  relative  positions  of  the  geological  formations  in  the  Sespe  dis- 
trict and  their  approximate  thickness  can  be  noted  on  Fig.  13,  show- 
ing a  cross-section  between  Station  20,  northwest  of  Redstone  Peak  and 
Station  15  B,  on  Agua  Blanca  Creek.  It  is  quite  probable  that  the 
thickness  of  strata  is  augmented  by  faults,  but  no  faults  of  importance 
were  observed.  The  angle  of  the  dip,  as  shown  in  Fig.  13,  is  a  some- 
what arbitrary  one,  but  it  is  probably  not  very  far  from  a  general  aver- 
age of  the  different  angles  at  which  the  rocks  dip  between  the  points 
named.  In  many  places  the  Sespe  brownstone  formation  dips  at  an 
angle  of  very  much  less  than  30°. 

LITTLE    SESPE    DISTRICT. 

2.1.22.  The  Little  Sespe  petroleum  mining  district  was  organized  April 
27,  1878.  Its  metes  and  bounds,  as  given  by  the  Recorder  of  the  district, 
are  as  follows:  "  Beginning  at  the  large  sycamore  tree  situated  about  100 
yds.  south  of  J.  Aker's  house  and  on  the  line  dividing  his  ranch  from 
that  of  Mower's;  thence  west  along  the  Sespe  grant  line  2  miles;  thence 
north  10  miles;  thence  east  to  west  line  of  Camulos  district;  thence 
south  to  Sespe  grant  line;  thence  west  along  the  Sespe  grant  line  to  place 
of  beginning." 

2.1.23.  The  following  groups  of  wells  are  situated  in  the  Little  Sespe 
mining  district:  The  Tar  Creek,  the  Four  Forks,  the  Brownstone,  the 
Kentuck,  and  also  the  oil-well  belonging  to  the  California  Oil  Co. 

2.1.24.  At  Tar  Creek  thirty -one  wells  have  been  sunk,  which  vary  from 
700'  to  1,000'  in  depth.  For  many  years  this  group  of  wells  has  been 
very  productive,  and  in  1892  they  yielded  at  the  rate  of  1,500  bbls.  a 
month.  In  1895  only  fiv^e  of  them  were  being  pumped,  and  it  is  said 
that  they  yielded  about  1,000  bbls.  a  month.  These  wells  are  situated 
near  the  axis  and  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Redstone  Peak  anticline. 
They  penetrate  the  dark-colored  shales,  and  some  of  them  probably 
pierce  the  drab  sandstone  overlying  the  Sespe  brownstone. 

2.1.25.  At  Four  Forks  five  wells  were  being  pumped  in  1895,  which 
were  said  to  yield,  all  told,  about  40  bbls.  of  oil  a  day.  Those  wells 
vary  from  700'  to  1,100'  in  depth.  It  is  said  that  the  Four  Forks  wells 
have  been  very  productive,  and  for  a  long  time  yielded  at  the  rate  of  750 
bbls.  of  oil  a  day.  Two  wells  drilled  at  Four  Forks  in  1895-96  by  the 
Union  Oil  Co.  of  Santa  Paula  are  said  to  be  very  remunerative.  The 
Four  Forks  wells  are  situated  east  of  the  point  to  which  the  end  of  the 


28  CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

Cold  Water  anticline  can  be  traced.  They  may  be  regarded  as  penetrat- 
ing rocks  forming  a  part  of  the  southern  slope  of  the  Redstone  Peak 
anticline.  The  formations  they  pierce  are  similar  to  those  pierced  by 
the  wells  at  Tar  Creek. 

2.1.26.  The  Brownstone  (Los  Angeles)  group  of  wells  is  situated  at 
the  forks  of  the  Little  Sespe,  and  penetrate  strata  which  may  be  most 
appropriately  referred  to  the  southern  slope  of  the  Cold  Water  anticline, 
although  that  fold  cannot  be  traced  east  of  the  forks  of  Little  Scspe 
Creek.  At  this  point  there  are  eight  wells,  which  are  said  to  vary  from 
400'  to  800'  in  depth.  Three  of  these  wells  are  west  and  five  of  them  east 
of  the  forks  of  the  Little  Sespe.  The  three  wells  first  mentioned  penetrate 
the  upper  portion  of  the  brownstone  formation,  and  are  said  to  be  dry- 
holes.  The  five  wells  situated  south  and  east  of  the  forks  of  Little  Sespe 
Creek  penetrate  the  lower  portion  of  the  dark-colored  shale  formation. 
It  is  said  that  these  wells  have  proved  very  productive,  and  that  in  1895 
they  yielded,  all  told,  at  the  rate  of  about  900  bbls.  a  month. 

2.1.27.  There  is  another  well  about  a  third  of  a  mile  south  of  the 
forks  of  the  Little  Sespe,  and  obviously  lower  on  the  southern  slope  of 
the  Cold  Water  anticline  than  are  the  Brownstone  group  of  wells.  In 
this  well  only  salt  water  was  obtained. 

2.1.28.  The  Kentuck  wells  are  situated  on  the  southern  slope  of  the 
Cold  Water  anticline  and  about  half  a  mile  from  its  axis.  They  are  on 
the  eastern  bank  of  Sespe  River,  close  to  the  point  where,  as  previously 
mentioned,  an  extensive  fault  crosses  the  Sespe.  All  these  wells,  except 
one,  penetrate  the  dark-colored  shales  and  the  sandstone  immediately 
underlying  it.  The  exception  referred  to  is  No.  1:  It  penetrates  forma- 
tions which  are  much  disturbed,  and  is  said  to  be  a  very  small  producer. 
No.  2  was  sunk  in  1889,  and  the  formation  penetrated  is  principally 
dark-colored  shale  and  light-colored  sand.  It  was  first  sunk  to  a  depth 
of  300',  and  yielded  300  bbls.  of  oil  daily  for  one  week,  then  200  bbls.  of 
oil  daily  for  two  weeks.  Subsequently  the  yield  declined,  and  the  well 
was  sunk  to  730'  in  depth.  When  that  depth  was  reached  oil  spouted 
over  the  "  walking  beam,"  and  the  well  yielded  500  bbls.  of  oil  daily  for 
two  months.  The  yield  then  graduallj'^  declined,  and  at  the  end  of  one 
year  the  well  produced  60  bbls.  of  oil  daily.  In  1895  this  well  yielded 
20  bbls.  of  oil  daily. 

2.1.29.  Nos.  3,  4,  5,  and  6  were  drilled  in  the  years  1890-91,  and  are 
about  700'  deep.  At  first  they  each  yielded  about  300  bbls.  of  oil  a  day, 
but  in  1895  the  yield  of  each  had  decreased  to  20  bbls.  of  oil  a  day. 
No.  7  is  about  730'  deep.  At  first  it  yielded  700  bbls.  of  oil  a  day,  but 
in  1895  the  yield  had  decreased  to  50  bbls.  of  oil  a  day.  Of  No.  8  no 
record  was  obtained.  In  1895  the  total  yield  of  the  Kentuck  wells  was 
about  4,000  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  The  oil  has  a  gravity  of  about  26°  B. 
when  it  is  first  taken  from  the  wells.  Many  of  the  wells  in  the  Sespe 
district  yield  considerable  gas,  which  is  used  under  the  steam-boilers 
and  for  domestic  purposes. 

2.1.30.  The  well  of  the  California  Oil  Co.  is  situated  at  the  axis  of 
the  Cold  Water  anticline,  or  a  very  short  distance  north  of  it.  The 
rocks  it  penetrates  are  brown  sandstone  and  the  hard  sandstones  imme- 
diately underlying  it.  This  well  was  drilled  in  1891,  and  the  formation 
penetrated  is  as  follows: 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA   COUNTY.  29 

Hard,  brown  sandstone 30' 

Soft,  red  sandstone - 10' 

Hard,  brown  sandstone 25' 

Black  shale -- - 25' 

Hard  sandstone 20' 

Soft,  red,  dry,  clayey  matter 20' 

Hard,  red  sandstone - 35' 

Shale,  with  very  heavy  oil 15' 

Hard,  red  sandstone S5' 

Soft,  drab-colored  shale,  with  heavy  oil 30' 

Soft  shale,  with  hard  strata,  the  latter  varying  in  thickness  from  6"  to  8'.  260' 

Yellow  sandstone -.  50' 

Dark-colored  shale,  with  oil .- -- 40' 

Yellow  sandstone. - 50' 

Sand,  with  oil .-- - - 25' 

Dark-colored  shale  ..- --. 30' 

Hard,  yellow  sandstone - 5' 

Oil-sand,  interstratilied  with  hard,  yellow  sandstone,  with  oil 30' 

Soft  shale,  with  oil -.. --  10' 

Hard,  red  sandstone -.  40' 

Soft  shale,  with  oil 5' 

Hard,  yellow,  sandy  shale 20' 

805' 

2.1.31.  Concerning  this  well,  Mr.  M.  Bradfield,  the  superintendent, 
states  as  follows:  When  a  depth  of  805'  was  reached,  the  well  spouted 
oil  over  the  top  of  the  derrick.  It  filled  a  250-bbl.  tank  in  less  than 
half  an  hour.  For  about  one  month  the  well  spouted  oil  twice  a  day, 
namely,  at  the  hours  of  10  a.  m.  and  8  p.  m.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
the  well  ceased  to  flow,  but  160  bbls.  of  oil  were  pumped  out  of  it  every 
twenty-four  hours  for  nearly  one  year.  The  well  then  became  choked 
with  sand,  and  the  flow  gradually  decreased.  In  1894  this  well  was 
cleaned  out,  and  it  is  said  to  have  yielded  100  bbls.  of  oil  a  day.  In 
1895  this  well  again  became  choked  with  sand,  and  as  the  price  of  oil 
was  very  low  the  sand  was  not  removed.  In  1896  this  well  was  again 
cleaned  out  and  work  was  resumed  to  deepen  it. 

THE   devil's   gate   OIL    AND    BROWNSTONE   MINING   DISTRICT. 

2.1.32.  The  metes  and  bounds  of  this  district  areas  follows:  "Begin- 
ning at  center  stake  of  the  south  line  of  Sec.  1 ,  T.  4  N.,  R.  20  W.,  S.  B.  M., 
and  continuing  west  6  miles;  thence  north  8  miles;  thence  east  6 
miles;  thence  south  8  miles,  crossing  the  Big  Sespe  River  to  place  of 
beginning,  being  partly  in  townships  4  and  5  of  the  aforesaid  meridian." 
The  Devil's  Gate  mining  district  includes  nearly  the  whole  of  that  portion 
of  the  Sespe  River  which  flows  through  what  is  commonly  known  as  the 
Sespe  district,  and  numerous  oil  and  brownstone  claims  have  been  located 
in  it.  The  portion  of  this  district  traversed  during  our  reconnaissance 
is  composed  of  the  following  rocks,  in  the  order  of  their  upward  vertical 
range,  and  were  hereinbefore  described: 

(a)  Very  hard  buff  and  brown  sandstones  and  dark-colored  shales, 
•containing  Eocene  fossils; 
{h)  "Whitish  sandstones; 
(c)  Sespe  brownstone  formation. 

OIL    DISTRICTS   NORTHWEST   OF   SANTA    PAULA. 

2.1.33.  The  petroleum  industry  in  the  oil  districts  west  of  Santa  Paula 
is  represented  by  the  oil-wells  in  the  Silverthread  (Sisar)  and  Sulphur 
Mountains  districts  and  the  O'Hara  wells  (see  Figs.  6  and  7  and  sketch 


30  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

map  Fig.  33);  also,  several  tunnels  which  have  been  run  for  oil,  as 
hereinafter  noted.  The  wells  and  tunnels  are  situated  in  hills  which 
culminate  in  the  mountain  ridge  of  San  Cayetana.  The  principal  range 
of  hills  which  extends  as  an  offshoot  from  Mount  Cayetana  is  known  as 
the  Ojai  range,  or  Sulphur  Mountains.  Santa  Paula  Creek  has  cut 
through  the  mountain  ridge  of  San  Cayetana  and  through  the  eastern 
end  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  whence  it  flows  southerly  and  joins  the 
Santa  Clara  River  near  the  town  of  Santa  Paula.     (See  Figs.  6  and  7.) 

2.1.34.  As  previously  mentioned,  and  as  can  be  seen  by  inspecting 
the  sketch  map  (Fig.  33),  the  fold  spoken  of  as  the  Cold  Water  anti- 
cline can  be  traced  from  the  Sespe  district  to  the  mountains  at  the 
southern  end  of  Ojai  Valley. 

2.1.35.  South  of  the  Cold  Water  anticline  and  west  of  Santa  Paula 
Creek  the  Eocene  formations  of  Mount  Cayetana  show  two  distinct  folds 
or  flexures,  and  their  axes  extend  in  an  east  and  west  direction.  The 
Silverthread  oil-wells  are  situated  near  the  axis  of  the  southernmost  of 
these  folds,  and,  as  hereinafter  noted,  it  is  probable  that  a  fault  extends 
along  the  axis  of  this  fold. 

2.1.36.  Farther  southward  more  recent  Tertiary  formations  prevail; 
they  constitute  a  fold,  the  axis  of  which  very  nearly  coincides  with  the 
course  of  Sisar  Canon,  and  about  a  mile  to  the  south  is  another  fold,  the 
axis  of  which  lies  south  of,  and  was  nearly  parallel  with,  the  southern 
base  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains.  All  the  oil-wells  at  the  southern  base 
of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  are  situated  a  short  distance  north  of  the  axis 
of  this  fold,  except  the  wells  in  Aliso  Caiion  and  perhaps  some  in  Wheeler 
Canon. 

2.1.37.  The  Jones  (O'Hara)  well,  east  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  pene- 
trates rocks  which  correspond  to  the  formation  on  the  northern  slope  of 
this  fold.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  eastern  end  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains 
exhibits  a  syncline.  The  rocks  on  the  northern  side  of  the  moun- 
tains dip  southerly,  and  form  the  southern  slope  of  the  fold  which  has 
its  axis  in  Sisar  Canon.  The  rocks  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sulphur 
Mountains  dip  northerly  and  form  the  northern  slope  of  the  fold  which 
extends  south  of,  and  nearly  parallel  with,  the  southern  base  of  the 
mountains. 

2.1.38.  The  geological  structure  of  this  territory  is  that  of  closely 
compressed  anticlinal  folds.  (See  Fig.  34.)  Along  the  anticlinal  and 
synclinal  axes  the  rocks  are  crushed  and  their  stratigraphy  is  irregular. 
In  a  general  way,  the  trend  of  the  valleys,  extending  east  and  west  from 
Santa  Paula  Canon,  coincides  with  that  of  the  axes  of  the  rocky  folds. 
Along  the  axes  of  the  folds,  and  along  what  appear  to  be  lines  of 
faulting,  there  are  numerous  springs  of  sulphuretcd  water,  gas,  and  oil. 
In  Sisar  Valley  some  of  the  mineral  springs  have  been  improved  and  a 
bath-house  and  camping  resort  have  been  established  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  visitors.  Much  of  the  gas  is  sulphureted  hydrogen.  It  is  the 
acid  resulting  from  the  oxidation  of  this  gas  which  is  the  most  promi- 
nent factor  in  the  solfataric  action  noticeable  on  the  southern  slope  of 
Sulphur  Mountains  and  elsewhere,  and  probably  many  of  the  bleached 
rocks  in  this  locality  owe  their  whiteness  to  this  reagent. 

2.1.39.  By  referring  to  the  sketch  map,  Fig.  33,  the  reader  can  note 
the  relative  position  of  the  oil-wells  and  of  the  several  tunnels  which 
have  been  run  for  oil  in  the  above  described  territory.  The  strike  of  the 
formation  varies  from  N.  70°  E.  to  S.  70°  E.,  the  prevailing  strike  being 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTUUA    COUNTY.  31 

N.  80°  E.,  or  thereabouts.  As  shown  by  the  exposed  rocks,  the  angle  of 
the  dip  of  the  different  strata  varies  from  40°  to  more  than  80°.  In  such 
closely  compressed  folds  as  those  herein  referred  to,  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose  that,  beneath  the  surface,  the  strata  in  many  places  dip  at  a 
much  greater  angle  than  the  exposed  rocks  indicate;  nor  could  rocky 
strata  be  so  crushed  together,  as  they  are  in  this  locality,  without  the 
formation  of  numerous  faults.  Fig.  84  shows  the  relative  position  of 
the  strata  exposed  between  a  line  drawn  S.  80°  W.  and  N.  80°  E., 
through  the  ]Mupu  school-house,  in  Santa  Paula  Canon,  and  a  line  drawn 
S.  80°  W.  and  N.  80°  E.,  through  station  D  on  the  fold  which  can  be 
traced  westward  from  the  head  of  Cold  Water  Canon  in  the  Sespe  oil 
district  to  the  mountains  northeast  of  Ojai  Valley. 

2.1.40.  In  order  to  convey  an  idea  as  to  the  structure  of  the  geological 
formations,  since  the  angle  of  the  dip  is  very  irregular,  the  strata  are 
represented  as  dipping  at  an  angle  of  65°.  In  order  that  this  diagram 
may  not  be  too  complicated,  numerous  faults  and  the  crumpled  rocks 
which  can  be  seen  in  the  axis  of  the  syncline  on  the  Sulphur  Mountains 
and  elsewhere,  are  not  shown.  The  oldest  rocks  (marked  W  in  Fig.  84) 
are  the  Eocene  formations,  and  which  are  exposed  between  Echo  Canon 
and  the  Silverthread  oil  district.  They  consist  of  hard  reddish-brown 
sandstone,  dark-colored  shales,  and  whitish  sandstone.  These  contain 
distinctively  Eocene  fossils.     (See  table  of  fossils.) 

2.1.41.  The  formation  marked  X  in  Fig.  34  consists  of  soft  sandstones 
(bituminous  in  places),  dark-colored  clays  and  shales.  From  the  clays 
was  obtained  a  small  collection  of  fossils  which  are  mostly  Eocene, 
together  with  some  unclassified  species,  said  by  Dr.  Cooper  to  resemble 
Miocene  forms.  (See  table  of  fossils.)  This  formation  underlies  the 
bleached  slaty  shales  on  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  and  for  the  most  part 
constitutes  the  short,  crumpled  fold  between  Silverthread  oil-wells  and 
the  northern  slope  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains.  These  rocks  are  pene- 
trated by  the  oil-wells  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  the  O'Hara  wells,  and 
probably  by  some  of  those  of  the  Silverthread  group.  In  physical  appear- 
ance these  dark-colored  shales  resemble  the  dark-colored  shales  at  Tar 
Creek  and  Four  Forks  in  the  Sespe  district.  The  fossils  obtained  from 
these  shales  indicate  the  Oligocene  period. 

2.1.42.  The  formation  marked  Y  in  Fig.  34  constitutes  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  dark-colored  shale  formations,  which  becomes  slaty  and  passes 
into  bleached  slaty  shale  (Fig.  9);  this  shale  is  traversed  by  numerous 
hard  calcareo-silicious  strata.  It  is  probable  that  this  bleaching  does 
not  extend  a  great  way  beneath  the  surface.  On  the  surface  these 
bleached  shales  frequently  appear  as  a  white  silicious  rock,  which  adheres 
readily  to  the  tongue.  These  shales  mainly  constitute  the  upper  portion 
of  the  eastern  end  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains;  on  the  west  side  of  the 
upper  end  of  Ojai  Valley  they  have  a  wide  outcrop,  and  springs  of 
heavy  oil  flow  from  them.  Farther  eastward,  in  Sisar  Valley,  the  out- 
crop narrows,  tapering  and  disappearing  in  the  Silverthread  oil  district. 

2.1.43.  As  previously  mentioned,  the  upper  portion  of  the  eastern 
end  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  consists  mainly  of  bleached  slaty  shales, 
similar  to  those  which  are  seen  in  Ojai  Valle}',  and  which  pinch  out  in 
the  Silverthread  oil  district.  On  the  northern  side  of  the  Sulphur 
Mountains,  they  can  be  seen  at  many  points  dipping  in  a  southerly 
direction,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  mountains  they  dip  northerly, 
the  synclinal  axis  being  near  the  apex  of  that  portion  of  the  mountains 


32  CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

referred  to.  On  the  southern  slope  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  as 
observed  immediately  north  of  the  Scott  &  Gillmore  oil-wells,  and  as 
shown  in  Fig.  15,  these  slat)''  shales  are  bounded  on  the  south  by  a  line 
of  decomposed  and  bleached  shale,  which  at  many  points  shows  evidence 
of  solfataric  action.  These  bleached  shales  make  a  line  along  the 
southern  flank  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  as  shown  in  Fig.  15.  This 
line,  or  sulphur  streak,  as  it  is  called,  can  be  traced  for  many  miles,  its 
course  being  approximately  S.  80°  W.  Along  this  sulphur  streak  or 
streaks  (for  it  looks  as  though  there  were  two  or  three  running  parallel), 
the  rocks  are  bleached,  and  here  and  there  they  manifest  solfataric 
action,  resulting  in  the  formation  of  small  quantities  of  alum,  sulphur, 
and  gypsum.  In  some  places,  even  at  3'  depth,  the  heat  is  too  great  to 
be  borne  by  the  bare  hand.  When  the  solfataric  action  ceases  in  one 
spot,  it  begins  in  another,  somewhere  along  the  line  indicated.  The 
extinct  solfataras  usually  show  a  white  slaty  shale  or  whitened  rotten 
rock;  in  one  instance  previous  solfataric  action  has  left  lichind  a  black 
pulverulent  rock.  In  some  places  near  this  sulphur  streak  the  rocks 
appear  to  have  been  softened  and  run  together  by  heat,  and  the  slope  of 
the  mountain  is  partially  covered  with  brecdia  formed  of  angular  frag- 
ments of  shale  and  other  sedimentary  rock  cemented  with  scoriaceous 
material.  In  one  place,  the  cementing  material  appears  to  be  silicious 
clay.  The  breccia  is  rudely  stratified;  its  dip  corresponds  to  the  slope 
of  the  mountain  south  of  it.  This  is  an  opposite  direction  to  the  dip  of 
the  underlying  rocks,  and  conveys  the  idea  that  these  disconnected 
masses  of  breccia  are  not  in  place.  This  solfataric  line  can  be  followed 
in  an  easterly  direction  to  Santa  Paula  Creek,  the  direction  being 
N.  80°  P].,  or  thereabouts.  East  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  although  the 
alluvium  is  very  deep,  bleached  shales  can  be  observed  here  and  there 
along  the  course  indicated,  nearly  to  the  head  of  Bear  Canon. 

2.1.44.  On  the  southwestern  flank  of  Mount  Cayetana,  at  about 
1,500'  altitude  above  the  bed  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  and  a  short  distance 
northeast  of  the  head  of  Bear  Canon,  there  is  an  exposure  of  whitish 
clay  or  bleached  clay-shale  intercalated  with  streaks  of  pulverulent 
silica,  the  latter  being  probably  referable  to  solfataric  action.  There  is 
but  little  doubt  that  the  solfataric  line  before  mentioned  marks  a  fissure 
or  fault  running  in  the  direction  of  the  strike  of  the  formation.  Below 
the  solfataric  line  there  is  a  fringe  of  oil-seepages,  from  which  heavy  oil 
and  maltha  creep  slowly  down  the  slope  of  the  mountain.  In  most 
places  the  bleached  slaty  shales  rest  on  slaty  shales  which  are  not 
bleached.  These  slaty  shales  have  been  prospected  by  both  wells  and 
tunnels,  some  of  which  are  productive.  In  every  instance,  however, 
the  productive  wells  and  tunnels  are  situated  at  or  near  the  contact  of 
the  slaty  shales  and  underlying  strata.  One  well,  drilled  at  or  near  the 
axis  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  syncline,  is  said  to  be  2,180' deep  and  to 
have  yielded  nothing  but  sulphur  water  and  a  very  small  quantity  of  oil. 

2.1.45.  Beneath  the  slaty  shales  on  the  northern  slope  of  Sulphur 
Mountains  there  is  a  very  meager  exposure  of  dark-colored  clay  shales. 
Indeed,  at  the  junction  of  Sisar  and  Santa  Paula  creeks,  the  slaty  shales 
dipping  south  are  in  immediate  contact  with  clayey  shales  and  sandy 
strata  dipping  north.  The  presence  of  crushed  rocks,  and  springs  of 
gas,  oil,  and  sulphur  water,  indicate  a  fault,  the  course  of  which  roughly 
corresponds  to  the  direction  of  Sisar  Valley  and  also  to  the  anticlinal 
axis  which  is  coincident  with  it. 


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OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY.  33 

2.1.46.  On  the  southern  side  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  the  strata 
underlying  the  slaty  shales  consist  of  dark-colored  shales,  sandy  shales, 
and  soft  sandstones.  These  rocks  are  penetrated  by  all  of  the  produc- 
tive wells  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains.  These  wells,  as 
before  mentioned,  are  situated  a  short  distance  north  of  the  axis  of  the 
fold  they  penetrate. 

2.1.47.  The  tunnels  which  have  been  run  for  oil  show  that  the  slaty 
shales  which  are  bleached  on  the  surface  are  dark-colored  at  no  great 
distance  beneath  the  ground,  and  that  they  gradually  pass  into  the 
dark-colored  clay  shales  which  underlie  them.  The  latter  exhibit  no 
slaty  structure  and  in  some  places  contain  fossils.  A  small  collection 
of  these  fossils  of  Miocene  and  a  few  Eocene  forms  was  obtained  from 
strata  of  dark-colored  clay  shale  in  the  Farrell  and  the  Magie  tunnels. 
(See  table  of  fossils.) 

2.1.48.  The  rocky  formations  between  the  Sulphur  Mountains  and 
the  Mupu  school-house,  as  exposed  along  Santa  Paula  Creek,  consist 
for  the  most  part  of  sandy  and  clayey  strata  which  are  rather  thin- 
bedded  and  exhibit  a  rapid  transition  from  strata  of  soft  sandstone  to 
strata  of  clay  and  sandy  shale.  There  is  a  limited  outcrop  of  a  similar 
formation  in  Sisar  Valley.  At  one  place  this  series  includes  a  stratum 
of  oil-yielding  sand  which  has  been  cut  through  by  Santa  Paula  Creek. 
This  formation  is  marked  Z  in  Fig.  34.  A  few  fossils  were  obtained 
therefrom  which  are  classed  by  Dr.  J.  G.  Cooper  as  of  Miocene  age.  At 
the  Jones  (O'Hara)  oil-wells,  on  the  southwestern  slope  of  Mount  Caye- 
tana,  the  rocky  formations  resemble  those  on  the  southern  slope  of  the 
Sulphur  Mountains;  farther  east,  near  Timber  Cailon,  Corey  Canon, 
and  Lord's  Canon,  similar  formations  are  found  almost  in  contact 
with  the  hard  Eocene  sandstones  of  Mount  Cayetana.  The  foothills 
immediately  south  of  Mount  Cayetana  consist  of  soft  sandstones,  shales, 
and  conglomerates,  containing  Miocene  and  Pliocene  fossils.  The  first 
tier  of  foothills  which  rises  north  of  the  valley  of  the  Santa  Clara 
River  consists  of  soft  and  pulverulent  fossiliferous  sandstone,  in  which 
Pliocene  forms  prevail.  This  is  a  very  characteristic  formation,  and  it 
is  exposed  at  many  places  in  the  lower  foothills  which  lie  south  of 
Mount  Cayetana  and  the  Sulphur  Mountains.  A  collection  of  fossils 
from  this  sandstone  shows  the  following  vertical  range: 

Living,  Quaternary 2 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene 10 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene,  Miocene 9 

(Quaternary,  Pliocene 1 

Pliocene 2 

New  species 1 

It  is  a  general  belief  that  in  California  there  is  a  non-conformabilit}^  be- 
tween the  Eocene  and  Miocene,  and  the  Miocene  and  Pliocene  formations. 

SILYERTHREAD    OIL    DISTRICT. 

2.1.49.  It  is  about  6  miles  north  of  Santa  Paula,  and  at  the  south- 
eastern end  of  Ojai  Valley  ;  in  it  are  the  following  oil-wells,  belonging 
to  the  Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.  of  Los  Angeles,  the  Sisar  Oil  and  Asphalt 
Co.  of  Hueneme,  Ventura  County,  and  the  Union  Oil  Co.  of  Santa  Paula 
and  Los  Angeles.  These  wells  are  situated  on  a  mountain  slope  which 
rises  immediately  to  the  northwest  of  the  junction  of  Santa  Paula  and 
Sisar  creeks,  and  forms  the  eastern  side  of  a  narrow  valley  through 


34  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

which  Sisar  Creek  flows.  On  the  western  side  of  that  stream  are  the 
Sulphur  Mountains,  which  attain  an  altitude  of  about  1,000'  above  Sisar 
Valley. 

2.1.50.  Between  the  oil-wells  and  Sisar  Clreek  are  numerous  springs 
of  oil,  which  occur  in  two  belts ;  one  of  them  lies  immediately  east  of 
the  wells  of  the  Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.,  and  the  other  south  of  the  Sisar 
Oil  and  Asphalt  Co.'s  and  the  Union  Oil  Co.'s  wells.  (See  sketch  map. 
Fig.  33.)  When  the  oil  first  exudes  from  the  rocks,  it  spreads  out  in 
pools  of  tar  (see  Fig.  16);  but  the  tar  soon  thickens  to  a  viscous 
bitumen,  which  crawls  down  to  Sisar  Creek  in  streams  of  maltha  and 
impure  asphaltum.  (See  Fig.  17.)  It  also  exudes  from  fissures  in  the 
hard  sandstone.  (See  Fig.  12.)  The  summit  of  the  mountain  slope  on 
which  the  Silverthread  oil-wells  arc  situated  is  marked  on  the  sketch 
map  as  station  E,  and  is  about  700'  above  Sisar  Creek.  The  crest  of 
this  mountain  slope  consists  for  the  most  part  of  rather  hard,  reddish- 
brown  sandstone.  The  few  fossils  these  rocks  contain  are  typically 
Eocene,  notably  Cardita  planicosta  and  Ostrea  idriaensis.  The  sand- 
stone dips  northerly.  The  rocks  exposed  north  of  station  E,  toward 
Echo  Canon  Peak,  are  principally  hard  Eocene  sandstone,  with  some 
dark-colored  shale.  In  Echo  Caiion,  and  in  the  canon  north  of  station 
E,  and  at  several  other  places,  there  are  springs  of  heavy  oil  issuing 
from  the  Eocene  rocks.  South  of  the  Eocene  formations,  which  are 
marked  W  in  Fig.  34,  are  soft  sandstones,  bituminous  in  places,  and 
slaty  shale,  which  bleaches  on  exposure,  and  are  marked  Y.  Beneath 
the  coarse,  grayish  sandstone  is  a  soft,  fine-grained  sandstone,  and  tough 
clay  and  clay-shales.  The  tough  clay,  as  before  mentioned,  contains 
Eocene  fossils,  and  some  of  which,  although  unclassified,  are  said  by 
Dr.  Cooper  to  resemble  Miocene  forms.  This  group  of  rocks  is  marked  X. 
The  rock  exposures  in  the  Silverthread  oil  district  are  very  unsatis- 
factory, but  such  rock  exposures  as  exist,  together  with  the  statements 
of  well-drillers  with  regard  to  the  kind  of  material  they  have  penetrated 
in  the  district,  warrants  the  conclusion  that  the  rocks  marked  X  and  Y 
constitute  the  oil-yielding  formations  at  this  point.  The  occurrence  of 
Miocene  and  Eocene  fossils  in  the  tough  clays  of  the  Silverthread  district 
refers  those  clays  to  the  same  geological  horizon  as  that  to  which  the 
dark-colored  shales  at  Tar  Creek  in  the  Sespe  district  belong. 

2.1.51.  The  relative  stratigraphic  positions  of  rocks,  marked,  respect- 
ively, X,  Y,  and  Z  (Fig.  34),  in  the  Silverthread  district,  and  the  sand- 
stones containing  typical  Eocene  fossils,  which  are  exposed  at  station  E, 
suggest  a  reversed  fold,  but  no  reduplication  of  strata  was  noted,  and 
the  relative  position  of  the  rocks  referred  to  may  be  occasioned  by  faults; 
the  rock  exposures  in  theSisar  Valley  are  unsatisfactory,  and  deductions 
hazardous.  The  drilling  records  of  the  Union  Oil  Co.  would  throw  some 
light  on  the  situation,  but  they  were  not  available. 

2.1.52.  Bard  Wells.  There  are  nine  wells,  550'  to  800'  deep;  total 
yield,  850  to  900  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  The  territory  on  which  these 
wells  are  situated  lies  immediately  west  of  that  belonging  to  the  Capital 
Crude  Oil  Co.  The  drillers  state  that  nearly  all  these  wells  showed  a 
disturbed  and  crushed  formation;  and  that  in  one  of  them  asphaltum 
was  penetrated  for  several  feet.  Some  idea  of  the  average  life  of  the 
wells  in  the  Silverthread  district  may  be  gathered  from  the  following 
table : 


Fig.  16.    Oil-Spring  in  Sisar  Valley. 


Fig.  17.    SiiiEAM  ok  Maltha  i.n  Slsaic  \  alllv. 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTUKA   COUNTY. 


35 


BARD  WELLS-SILVERTIIREAD  OIL  DISTRICT. 


Number  of  Well. 

When  Drilled. 

Depth. 

Diiily  Yield 
when  Completed. 

Dully  Yield 
ill  Juiie,  lb95. 

2 _. 

3  ["\"[^..'l. 

1892 

1892 
1894 
1S93 
1893 
1893 
1893 
1893 
1894 

Feet. 

3,50 
350 
450 
420 
420 
350 
750 
750 
658 

Bbls. 

14 

5 

8 

20 
12 

8 

3 

6 

3 

Hbls. 

5 
3 

4 

5 

6 

5 
G 

3'i 

7 

1 

H 

9 

IV2 

10 

IK 

Two  varieties  of  oil  are  obtained  from  these  wells;  namely,  an  oil  of 
high  specific  gravity  from  the  shallowest  wells,  and  an  oil  of  somewhat 
lower  specific  gravity  from  the  deeper  wells. 

2.1.53.  Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.  has  eleven  wells,  400'  to  750'  deep;  also 
one  abandoned  well  (the  Webber),  near  Santa  Paula  Creek.  No  definite 
record  of  the  strata  penetrated  was  kept,  but  the  well-drillers  state  that 
in  the  most  northern  of  the  wells  tliey  passed  through  sandstone  for 
about  380',  at  which  depth  oil-bearing  shales  were  reached.  They  say 
that,  farther  southward,  the  strata  penetrated  are  principally  blue 
shales,  tough  blue  clay,  red  rock  (iron-stained  shale),  and  soft  sand- 
stones; andl  that  the  oil  was  either  in  the  hardened  shales  or  in  their 
sandstone  strata,  which  interstratify  the  soft  clayey  shales.  In  June, 
1895,  ten  wells  belonging  to  the  Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.  were  being 
pumped,  and  yielded  aV)Out  990  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  These  wells  yield 
two  grades  of  oil.     (See  oil  analysis.) 

2.1.54.  Union  Oil  Co.'s  Wells.  (See  sketch  map.  Fig.  33.)  These 
are  situated  immediately  west  of  the  Bard  wells.  There  are  two  wells 
more  than  900'  deep,  one  600',  one  500',  and  five  varying  from  60'  to  200' 
in  depth.  In  June,  1895,  eight  of  them  were  being  pumped,  and  yielded, 
all  told,  600  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  Three  kinds  of  oil  are  obtained  from 
these  wells:  a  heavy  black  oil,  a  brown  oil,  and  a  green  oil.  (See  oil 
analysis.)     The  black  oil  is  obtained  from  the  shallow  wells. 

2.1.55.  Oil-Wells  South  of  Sulphur  Mountains.  These  wells  are  at  the 
southern  base  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  and  at  800'  to  1,000'  altitude. 
They  are  as  follows:  Adams  Canon,  Aliso  Canon,  Salt  Marsh,  Scott  & 
Gillmore,  and  Wheeler  Canon  wells.  All  these  wells,  except  those  in 
Aliso  Canon,  and  perhaps  some  of  the  wells  in  Wheeler  Canon,  are  situ- 
ated a  short  distance  north  of  the  axis  of  the  anticlinal  fold,  which,  as 
shown  in  cross-section.  Fig.  34,  lies  south  of  the  fold  penetrated  by  the 
wells  in  the  Silverthread  district. 

2.1.56.  Adams  Cation  Wells.  It  is  said  that  twenty-nine  wells  have 
been  drilled  in  this  canon,  varying  from  200'  to  2,780'  in  depth,  and 
j'ielding  from  5  to  1,000  bbls.  of  oil  a  day.  In  June,  1895,  they  were 
nearly  all  exhausted,  and  only  three  wells  were  being  pumped,  which 
were  reported  to  yield,  all  told,  about  900  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  As  the 
Adams  Canon  wells  have  been,  and  are  yet,  the  most  important  group 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains,  a  lirief  description  of  some 
of  them  may  be  of  interest.  In  the  east  fork  of  Adams  Canon,  al)out 
a  mile  west  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  there  are  several  acres  covered  with 
brea.     In  the  eastern  end  of  this  brea-bed  a  well  was  drilled  at  an  early 


36  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINhNG    BUREAU. 

day,  which  is  said  to  have  been  productive  for  many  years.  Several 
other  wells,  more  or  less  productive,  were  drilled  in  the  east  fork  of 
Adams  Canon.  The  most  important  one  was  known  as  the  Bradford 
well,  said  to  be  GOO'  deep,  and  yielding  300  bbls.  of  oil  a  day  for  many 
months;  but  its  yield  gradually  diminished,  and  at  the  end  of  three 
years  the  well  was  exhausted.  The  most  interesting  of  the  Adams 
Canon  wells  are  situated  in  the  central  fork  of  Adams  Canon,  otherwise 
known  as  Wild  Bill  Gulch.  The  well  from  which  this  canon  takes  its 
name  is  700'  in  depth,  and  was  sunk  in  1882.  The  formation  pene- 
trated is  soft  clayey  shale,  with  strata  of  sand.  Oil  was  struck  shortly 
before  reaching  the  greatest  depth  attained.  This  well  yielded  75  l>bls. 
of  oil  daily  for  a  year,  when  it  commenced  to  fail,  and  at  the  end  of 
three  years  went  dry. 

2.1.57.  No.  27  is  situated  75'  south  of  the  Wild  Bill  well.  Similar 
strata  to  those  encountered  in  the  Wild  Bill  well  were  passed  through 
to  1,800'  in  depth.  From  that  point  to  a  depth  of  2,780'  the  formation 
was  principally  sand.  At  1,000'  depth  the  well  yielded  25  bbls.  of 
heavy  black  oil  a  day,  but  no  gas.  At  2,000',  a  heavy,  grass-green  oil 
was  obtained,  which,  when  exposed  to  the  air  for  a  few  hours,  became 
thick  and  viscous.  Between  the  depths  of  2,700'  and  2,780',  a  light- 
green  oil  of  about  27°  B.  and  much  gas  were  obtained  from  a  dark- 
brown  sand  formation.  When  first  pumped,  it  yielded  about  60  bbls. 
of  oil  a  day.  It  was  pumped  continually  for  three  years,  and  gradually 
diminished  until  1895,  when  it  yielded  daily  only  5  bbls.  of  green  oil  of 
low  specific  gravity. 

2.1.58.  No.  16  is  about  125'  southwest  of  the  Wild  Bill  well.  The 
formation  passed  through  varies  from  dark-brown  to  light-colored  sand, 
yielding  much  gas.  A  brown  oil  of  high  specific  gravity  was  struck  a*-- 
330  in  depth.  At  875'  the  oil  shot  above  the  top  of  the  derrick.  This 
well  is  said  to  have  flowed  at  the  rate  of  1,000  bbls.  of  oil  a  day  for  ten 
days,  when  it  was  capped  under  a  pressure  of  1,500  lbs.  to  the  square 
inch.  In  a  few  weeks  the  flow  of  oil  ceased,  and  the  well  was  pumped. 
At  first  it  yielded  300  bbls.  of  oil  a  day,  but  at  the  end  of  one  year  the 
well  was  exhausted. 

2.1.59.  Seven  wells  were  sunk  in  Wild  Bill  Gulch;  it  is  said  that 
only  Nos.  28  and  29  appeared  to  affect  each  other,  and  they  were  about 
200'  apart.  No.  28  was  850'  deep,  and  yielded  25  bbls.  daily  until  No. 
29  was  completed,  when  it  went  dry  in  twenty-four  hours  thereafter. 
In  it  water  was  struck  at  200'  depth.  No,  29  was  975'  deep,  and  water 
was  struck  at  200'  depth.  At  975'  it  was  pumped,  and  yielded  at  the 
rate  of  60  bbls.  a  day  for  a  short  time,  and  then  25  bbls.  daily  for  five 
years. 

2.1.60.  In  1887  a  well  was  drilled  in  west  fork  of  Adams  Canon,  and 
about  one  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  Wild  Bill  Gulch.  It  is  said  that, 
although  this  well  is  1,400'  deep,  when  completed  it  yielded  only  5  bbls. 
of  oil  a  day,  and  that  it  failed  in  a  few  months. 

2.1.61.  Aliso  Canon  wells  are  about  4  miles  west  of  those  in 
Wheeler  Canon  and  about  10  miles  in  an  air-line  from  Santa  Paula. 
These  five  wells,  600'  to  700'  deep,  are  said  to  be  producers  of  oil  accom- 
panied by  much  water.     In  May,  1895,  they  were  not  being  pumped. 

2.1.62.  Salt  Marsh  Car'wn  wells  are  situated  about  one  half  mile 
southwest  of  the  well  in  the  west  fork  of  Adams  Canon,  and  consist  of 
nine  wells  drilled  in  1887,  and  varying  from  250'  to  1,600'  in  depth.    It 


OIL    AND    GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY.  37" 

is  said  that  the  formation  is  dark-colored  shale  and  sand,  and  that  they 
yielded  200  l)bls.  of  oil  a  day  for  more  than  a  year,  but  that  the  yield 
gradually  diminished,  until  in  1895  three  wells  only  were  being 
pumped,  which  yielded,  all  told,  300  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.1.63.  Scott  tO  Gillmore  loells,  seven  in  number,  are  about  one  half 
mile  west  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  and  are  300'  to  1,100'  deep;  total  yield, 
200  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  The  oil  varies  from  a  light-brown  oil  to 
maltha;  the  oil  of  the  lowest  specific  gravity,  i.  g.,  the  light-brown  oil,  is 
obtained  from  strata  which  are  the  lowest  in  point  of  vertical  range. 

2.1.64.  Wheeler  Canon  wells  are  more  than  a  mile  southwest  of  the 
wells  in  Salt  Marsh  Canon.  It  is  said  that  five  wells,  from  200'  to  900' 
deep,  were  drilled  in  this  caiion;  and  that  the  chief  oil-bearing  stratum 
was  struck  at  90'  depth;  also,  that  the  best  well  was  only  250'  deep, 
and  that  it  yielded  30  bbls.  of  oil  a  day  for  six  months,  and  then  went 
dry.  In  Wheeler  Canon  there  are  extensive  deposits  of  calcareous  tufa, 
from  which  specimens  of  Helix  traski  (see  table  of  fossils)  were  obtained. 
There  are  similar  rocks  at  other  places  in  the  Sulphur  ^Mountains,  and 
many  of  the  springs  which  issue  therefrom  form  a  calcareous  deposit. 

2.1.65.  Many  of  the  wells  in  the  Silverthread  district  and  on  the 
southern  side  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  yield  considerable  gas.  It  is 
used  for  steam-boilers  and  for  domestic  purposes. 

OIL-WELLS   ON    SOUTHWESTERN    SLOPE   OF    MOUNT   CAYETANA. 

2.1.66.  The  O^Hara  oil-ivells  are  situated  three  quarters  of  a  mile 
east  of  Santa  Paula  Creek,  and  at  about  1,130'  elevation.  (See  Fig.  6.) 
They  pierce  similar  strata  to  those  south  of  Sulphur  Mountains.  They 
consist  of  five  wells,  varying  from  430'  to  1,170'  in  depth,  and  yield, 
all  told,  about  400  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.1.67.  The  following  records  of  the  two  deepest  wells  were  kindly 
put  at  the  disposal  of  the  Mining  Bureau: 

Well  No.  1.  Completed  December  2,  1892,  yielding  900  bbls.  of  oil 
monthly.     In  June,  1895,  it  yielded  300  bbls.  of  oil  per  month. 

To      45'  depth,  14"  casing.    Clay  and  light-colored  shale. 

"  TCK  "  Dark  shale,  witli  a  little  water. 

"  SCf  "  Water,  with  a  little  gas. 

"  120'  "  Dark  shale,  with  streak  of  brea;   some  water. 

"  200'  "  121"  casing.    Slate  and  shale. 

"  255'  "  Shale. 

"  275'  "  Thin  stratum  of  hard  rock. 

"  300'  "  8J^"  casing  (screw).    Soft  shale. 

"  415'  "  Shale  and  brea. 

"  525'  "  Sand,  with  gas. 

"  575'  "  Sand  and  slate  ;  more  gas  and  a  little  oil. 

"  650*  "  6%"  casing.    Hard,  dark  shale,  with  thin  streaks  of  sand  and  brea ; 

some  oil. 

"  655'  "  Sand,  with  water. 

"  705'  "  Dark-colored  sand,  with  gas. 

"  735'  "  More  water,  with  traces  of  oil. 

"  805'  "  Hard,  close,  dark-colored  sand,  with  a  little  oil. 

"  817'  "  Dark-colored  sand :  good  showing  of  oil;  during  8  days  pumped 

22>^  bbls.  a  day. 

"  895'  "  Dark-colored  sand  (making 90' of  oil-sand  in  one  stratum). 

"  950'  "  Shale  and  slate. 

"  965'  "  Sand,  with  gas  and  oil. 

"  1,005'  "  Shale  and  light-colored  slate. 

"  1,100'  "  Oil-sand. 

"  1,120'  "  4>^"  casing. 

"  1,155'  "  Oil-sand. 

"  1,170'  "  Slate. 


38 


CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


Well  No.  2  is  about  700'  southwesterly  of  the  preceding.  In  June, 
1895,  it  yielded  1  bbl.  of  heavy  oil  daily,  said  to  come  from  between 
190'  and*215'  depth. 


To      20'  depth, 

6't'  " 

75'  " 

"       85'  " 

"      100'  " 

"      170'  " 

"      190'  ' 

"      215'  ' 


"  300' 

"  320' 

"  390' 

"  520' 

"  570' 

"  620' 

"  670' 

"  775' 

"  790' 

"  854' 

"  851' 

"  860' 

"  870' 

"  965' 

"  1,105' 

"  1.125' 


HM"  casing.    Dark-colored  sand. 

Hard,  white  sand,  followed  by  softer  sand. 

12"  casinj<.  Harder  sandstone;  brea  streak;  showing  of 
heavy  oil  and  a  little  water. 

Showing  of  light,  amber-colored  oil. 

Hard  sandstone  ;  heavy  oil. 

Shale,  caved  badly. 

10;^^"  casing.    Light-colored  sandstone. 

Dark  sand.  Heavy  oil  rose  to  witliin  100'  of  the  surface. 
For  a  few  days  8  bbls.  of  oil  a  day  were  pumped,  but  after- 
ward diminished  to  3  bbls. 

Light-colored,  soft  shale,  with  streaks  of  white  sand. 

Dark-colored  shale  (caves  badly). 

Sandstone,  with  thin  strata  of  shale  and  a  little  gas. 

Sand  and  shale. 

Shale  and  liglit-colored  sand. 

G')i"  casing.    Sandstone  and  gas  ;  shale  (caves  badly). 

Dark-colored  sandstone. 

Very  hard,  white  sand. 

5%"  casing. 

Sandstone. 

Soft  sandstone. 

Sand,  with  some  gas  and  oil  and  much  water. 

Running  sand. 

Shut  down  six  weeks ;  hole  filled  IOC  with  sand. 

4%"  casing.    Hard,  white  sand. 

Kunning  sand. 


2.1.68.  Extending  east  from  the  Jones  (O'Hara)  oil-wells  the  exposed 
formations  consist  of  dark-colored  shales  and  soft  sandstones,  which 
crop  out  all  the  way  up  Bear  Caiion.  In  some  places  petroleum  seeps 
from  them. 

2.1.69.  The  Grayham  well  is  about  4  miles  east  of  the  O'Hara  wells 
and  a  short  distance  west  of  Timber  Canon.  It  is  said  that  this  well  is 
275'  deep;  that  it  penetrates  a  soft  grayish  sandstone,  and  that  it  can 
be  made  to  yield  6  bbls.  of  oil  in  twenty-four  hours. 


2.1.70.    TOTAL  YIELD  OF  OIL-WELLS  NORTHWEST  OF  SANTA  PAULA. 


Oil-Wells. 


No.  of 
Wells. 


Depth. 


Monthly 
Yield. 


Capital  Oil  Co.  wells .- 

Bard  wells,  Sisar  Oil  and  Asphalt  Co. 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  wells,  in  Sisar  Canon 

Scott  &  Gillmore  wells j. 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  wells,  in  Adams  Canon 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  wells,  in  Salt  Marsh  Caiion 

O'llara  wells,  in  15ear  Gulch  


11 
9 
9 
7 
3 
3 
5 


Feet. 

400  to     750 

550  to     8C0 

60  to     9(10 

300  to  1,100 


430  to  1,170 


Total  monthly  yield. 


Bbls. 
990 
9U0 
6110 
200 
900 
300 
400 


4,290 


OIL    AND   GAS    YIELDING    FOUMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY.  39 

CHAPTER  II. 
Oil-Tunnels. 

2.2.01.  All  the  productive  oil-tunnels  in  the  Sulphur  Mountains 
district  are  situated  on  its  southern  slope.  It  will  be  observed  by 
examining  Figs.  33  and  34,  that  the  oil-tunnels  penetrate  strata  which 
overlie  the  rocks  pierced  by  the  oil-wells  on  the  south  side  of  the  Sulphur 
Mountains;  also,  that  the  oil-tunnels  are  situated  immediately  south  of 
the  solfataric  line,  which,  as  before  mentioned,  probably  marks  a  fissure 
or  fault  traversing  the  Sulphur  Mountains  in  a  course  which  is  nearly, 
but  not  quite,  coincident  with  the  strike  of  the  formation.  Indeed,  the 
Orne  tunnel  terminates  in  crushed  shales,  almost  within  the  southern 
limits  of  the  solfataric  line  previously  mentioned. 

2.2.02.  An  inspection  of  Figs.  18, 19,  and  20,  which  respectively  show 
the  Pinkerton,  Good,  Magie,  and  some  of  the  Farrell  tunnels,  will  give 
those  who  wish  closely  to  follow  the  matter  a  good  idea  of  the  character 
of  the  strata  penetrated  by  the  oil-tunnels  on  the  southern  slope  of  the 
Sulphur  Mountains.  These  strata  consist  of  dark-colored  clay  shale  and 
soft  sandstone,  with  an  occasional  hard  calcareous  stratum.  The  shale 
becomes  slaty  as  the  before-mentioned  solfataric  line  is  approached.  In 
these  tunnels,  the  oil  is  usually  struck  in  thin  strata  of  sandstone,  or  it 
oozes  from  little  fissures  or  cracks  in  the  shale  or  slate,  and  sometimes  it 
exudes  from  between  the  laminse  of  the  slaty  shale;  it  is  usually  accom- 
panied by  sulphureted  water.  For  the  most  part,  the  oil  is  green,  but 
heavy  black,  brown,  heavy  and  light  green  oils  are  found  at  no  great 
distance  from  one  another.  Some  of  the  strata  penetrated  by  these  tun- 
nels yield  much  gas.  When  work  is  in  progress,  the  tunnels  are  illumi- 
nated by  reflected  sunlight  (Fig.  21)  or  by  incandescent  electric  lights. 
The  blasts  are  usually  discharged  by  electricity,  and  water-blasts  are 
used  to  ventilate  the  workings.  The  cost  of  running  these  tunnels  is 
about  as  follows:  $1  50  per  foot  for  the  first  100',  and  $1  per  foot  more 
for  every  additional  100',  exclusive  of  the  cost  of  timbering.  Each  foot 
of  tunnel  requires  one  2"x  12"x  16'  plank  for  posts  and  caps,  and  some- 
times lagging  is  needed.  The  tunnels  are  usually  4'  wide  on  the  bottom 
and  3'  wide  on  top,  and  about  6'  high.  A  foot-board  and  a  track  run 
the  entire  length  of  the  tunnels.  The  track  is  made  either  of  iron  or 
3"x  4"x  16'  pine  scantling.  For  sleepers,  a  2"x  12"x  16'  plank  is  used 
for  every  16'  of  track.  The  oil  and  water  flow  down  a  gutter  in  the 
floor  of  the  tunnel  to  a  separating  tank,  which  usually  holds  lObbls.  In 
the  separating  tank,  the  oil  rises  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  is  drawn 
off  by  a  pipe-line  to  a  receiving  tank,  while  the  water  escapes  from  an 
outlet  at  the  bottom. 

The  following  tunnels  are  shown  on  Figs.  23  and  24: 

2.2.03.  Pinkerton  Lower  Tunnel.  It  is  320'  in  length.  When  com- 
pleted in  1894,  it  yielded  45  bbls.  of  oil  a  month.  In  1895  it  yielded  per 
month  30  bbls.  of  oil  of  high  specific  gravity.  The  principal  source  is  a 
sandstone  stratum  8^"  in  thickness,  which  is  traversed  by  crevices  i" 
to  i"  wide.  The  oil  is  accompanied  by  gas  and  sulphureted  water. 
Between  this  sandy  stratum  and  the  end  of  the  tunnel,  oil  and  sulphu- 
reted water  seep  through  cracks  in  the  walls  and  in  the  floor  of  the 
tunnel. 

4 — M 


40 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MININC;    BUREAU. 


i 


h/hihe  Shreahr 
,,^^£  .focks  cteconn posed  by 
/3*o*   *  solfaharic    aihion. 
W  ^ri/lholo  a/- enti  runnel. 

Pinker hon    Tunnels      ^^ru^hed slaty  shaie 

'  Hard  calcareous  ir  o<i<''^^°nB^^     \p 

stratum     /^Sofi.^  '^'^    ^t.^^-    Vr^nnel 

ahyaofi   ^raonoiLanc(gas\    ^o'\,^if,  i,y'%r^^      ,/so' 
from  sp^dy  shraha  inhencal-^ig^     ^.(^^:t,<^,^Ko^Orne  Tutn^tet. 
-ahect   mf-h    slaty  shale  ^rf   S  ^Xo. s^  6^.  <5 'i>l » W 


rrhite  spot 
no  erid-, 
of  So  If al 
action 


^  .'-'-■   s't,7j  X     ^  ^''        p,<t,^  ^'^'^^y     .--''^yo.nnStJt^rj.^t.^rr,^ 


Shonino  erid- ,  1^^° 
ence  of  So  If  atone 


/2eo' 


i\aH 


shole   ), 


Sorctsto'.-^^^ 
Drift   —  Ti\s» 


■^<oO' 


Shale    »i 
sondsl-one^i  .^  ^ 


.V 


irrolO'^-Atl     K    P'nkerton  lorrGf- 


&' 


S(ai-e: 


4-00  800 


\fj^ 


u^" 


©  0 

Fig.  1<S.    The  Pinkerton  and  the  Good  Brotiibrs'  Oil-Tunnels. 


600  Appro/imat'e 
Scale. 


V'/'nAertcIn 


Fig.  19.    Formations  Penetrated  by  the  Pinkerton  Tunnels. 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS— VENTURA    COUNTY.  41 

2.2.04.  Pinker  ton  Middle  (Gulch)  Tunnel.  It  is  700' in  length.  It  is 
distant  about  400'  N.  15°  W.  from  the  end  of  the  Pinkerton  lower  tunnel, 
and  is  about  100'  higher  up  the  mountain.  IJetween  the  two  points  the 
rock  exposures  show  the  formation  to  be  that  represented  in  Figs.  18  and 
19.  In  the  Gulch  tunnel  the  formation  is  shale  and  soft  sandstone;  the 
shale  is  more  slaty  than  it  is  in  the  lower  tunnel,  and  some  strata 
contain  the  bones  of  iish.  There  is  much  gas.  At  125' a  small  amount 
of  black  oil  in  shale  was  first  encountered.  At  400'  a  heavy  brown  oil 
was  struck  at  the  contact  of  shale  and  sandstone.  At  first  this  oil 
seepage  jdelded  4  bbls.  of  oil  daily.  At  630'  a  thin  .stratum  of  loose 
sand  yielded  much  gas  and  sulphureted  water,  and  the  strata  are 
vertical.  For  the  next  10'  a  liglit  green  oil  of  low  specific  gravity  oozes 
from  sandy  strata  which  are  separated  by  slaty  shale.  At  the  end  of 
the  tunnel  a  slaty  shale  gives  out  a  little  green  oil  and  much  gas.  For 
the  first  year  after  its  completion,  in  1892,  this  tunnel  yielded  150  bbls. 
of  oil  a  month.     In  1895,  the  yield  was  90  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.05.  Jefferson  Tunnel.  It  is  400'.  in  length,  and  was  completed  in 
1893.  It  appears  to  be  run  in  consolidated  drift,  or  decomposed  rock. 
At  100'  green  oil  was  struck,  and  a  little  oil  seeps  out  here  and  there 
throughout  the  entire  length  of  the  tunnel,  at  the  end  of  which  a  35' 
well  has  been  drilled.  When  first  completed  this  well  yielded  210  bbls. 
of  oil  a  month;  in  1895  it  yielded  50  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.06.  In  1895  a  200'  tunnel  has  been  run  about  15'  N.  50°  W.  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Jefferson  tunnel,  and  about  20'  higher  up  the  mountain. 
The  formation  is  slaty  shale.  There  is  a  45'  drill-hole  at  the  end  of  the 
tunnel,  which  yields  30  bbls.  of  rather  heavy  green  oil  a  month;  no 
water. 

2.2.07.  Orne  Tunnel.  It  is  700'  in  length,  and  was  completed  early 
in  1895.  The  mouth  of  this  tunnel  is  about  200'  N.  25°  E.  from  the 
tunnel  last  described,  and  is  about  40'  higher  elevation.  It  penetrates 
soft  sandstone  and  slaty  shale.  At  100'  a  heavy  green  oil  was  struck  in 
sandstone.  Between  300'  and  400'  a  green  oil  of  low  specific  gravity 
oozes  from  strata  of  sandy  shale.  At  the  end  of  the  tunnel  the  shale 
is  crushed  and  yields  sulphureted  water  and  brown  oil  of  high  specific 
gravity.  At  the  end  of  the  tunnel  a  25'  hole  has  been  drilled,  from 
which  sulphureted  water  and  a  little  oil  flow.  At  its  completion  this 
tunnel  yielded  120  bbls.  of  oil  a  month  for  three  months.  In  1895  the 
flow  was  50  bbls.  a  month.  As  before  mentioned,  the  end  of  this  tunnel 
penetrates  crushed  rocks  which  underlie  the  solfataric  line  previously 
described. 

2.2.08.  Adams  (Old)  Tunnel.  It  is  75'  long,  and  was  completed,  it  is 
said,  in  1880.  It  is  distant  about  400'  N.  25^  \V.,  and  about  100'  above, 
the  mouth  of  the  Orne  tunnel.  The  formation  appears  to  be  slaty  shale, 
but  is  much  decomposed;  in  many  places  the  surface  of  the  walls  and 
the  timbers  are  coated  with  small,  flat,  lustrous  crystals,  which  appear 
to  be  the  thickest  where  the  gas  is  the  strongest.  Before  the  Orne 
tunnel  was  completed  the  Adams  (old)  tunnel  yielded  30  bbls.  of  heavy 
oil  a  month.     In  1895  it  yielded  practically  nothing. 

2.2.09.  A  200'  tunnel  has  been  run  a  short  distance  N.  12°  E.  of  the 
Orne  tunnel,  in  slaty  shale,  at  the  end  of  which  a  heavy  green  oil  was 
struck.  When  first  completed  it  yielded  120  bbls.  of  oil  a  month;  in 
June,  1895,  it  yielded  about  15  bbls.  of  oil. 

2.2.10.  Good  <Sc  Irwin   Tunnel.     It  is  340'  in  length,  and  situated 


42  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUKKAU. 

about  1,000'  a  little  south  of  west  from  the  Pinkerton  lower  tunnel. 
Judging  by  the  dump,  the  rocks  penetrated  are  very  similar  to  those 
observed  in  the  Pinkerton  lower  tunnel.  In  1895  it  yielded  6  bl)ls.  of 
heavy  oil  a  month. 

2.2.11.  Good  Lower  Tunnel.  It  is  328'  long,  and  about  400'  south- 
west of  the  mouth  of  the  Good  Ar  Irwin  tunnel,  and  about  30'  lower 
down  tlie  mountain.  The  first  50'  of  this  tunnel  penetrated  the  drift; 
20'  of  breccia  were  then  passed  through;  then  50'  more  of  drift;  thence  to 


Pecomposecfs/a/y    A 
Shale  Ahomna  so/faf^-r--^  _ 

^    Probable  FoLilr  c3/um  i>,su/pnur 

leso  ^<Z:^s/a/-y  shaie.  an  fur,  ^.  s 

Oiurr.^.s.ulpt't^'' 


sand  roclr  ^ 
Orifif.    ^ 
£arth .    t- 

SoffSanaf.lo"'*.    ^  ^^^(O 

Hirdll^€it'one         -^^     H^m'^'        .   L 

fossils,^  a  lime  o,/.  \  '■<•"'  ^pS       ,=H    c'lSL^''"^  ^i3_  . 

Sandsl-onerr>f^- 
v<^omc  shale 

DarKcolored  shale  r^^of 

^o^  Sand^l-one 


Aoo 


I""iG.  20.    The  Magie  and  the  Farrell  Oil-Tuxnei,s. 

the  end  of  the  tunnel  the  formation  is  sandstone  and  dark-colored  shale. 
At  the  end  of  the  tunnel  there  is  a  spring  of  sulphureted  water  and 
traces  of  oil. 

2.2.12.  Good  Middle  Tunnel.  It  is  425'  long,  and  about  150'  above 
the  Good  lower  tunnel,  from  which  it  is  distant  about  400'  north- 
westerly. The  formation  penetrated  resembles  that  in  the  Good  lower 
tunnel.     It  produces  sulphureted  water,  but  practically  no  oil. 

2.2.13.  Good  Upper  Tunnel.  It  is  50'  long,  and  about  80'  above  the 
middle  tunnel,  from  which  it  is  distant  about  400'  northerly.  The 
formation  is  principally  dark-colored,  and  somewhat  slaty,  shale.  A 
small  quantity  of  oil  was  struck  in  a  thin  stratum  of  sandstone. 

2.2.14.  Magie  and  Farrell  cC*  Kimball  Tunnels,  shown  on  sketch  map. 
Fig.  20,  are  situated  in  the  west  fork  of  Salt  Marsh  Canon.  They  are 
distant  about  two  thirds  of  a  mile  in  a  southwesterly  direction  from  the 
Good  tunnels,  and  they  range  from  1,200'  to  1,300'  altitude. 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA   COUNTY.  43 

2.2.15.  Mcujie  Tunnel  No.  G.  In  June,  1895,  this  tunnel  was  560' 
long,  and  work  was  still  being  actively  prosecuted.  The  formation 
penetrated  shows  as  follows: 

Dark-colored  shale,  with  a  few  fossils 220' 

Hard  stratum  of  limestone  and  a  little  heavy  oil 2' 

Light  gray  sandstone,  yielding  daily  6  bbls.  of  oil  of  20°  B 120' 

ylatv  shale... 20' 

Sandstone,  apparently  crushed,  in  strata  1"  to  18"  in  thickness,  inter- 
stratilicd  witli  layers  of  clay-shale  and  clay  %"  to  ]4"  thick.  The  last 
27'  of  this  formation  is  traversed  by  cracks  running  transversely  to  the 

strike  of  the  rocks,  and  the  sandstone  is  saturated  with  oil 180' 

Slaty  shale 20' 

Hard  (crushed)  limestone  and  oil 3' 

In  June,  1895,  the  end  of  the  tunnel  was  in  a  slaty  shale,  traversed 
by  small  fissures  yielding  sulphureted  water  and  oil.  This  tunnel  yields 
200  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.16.  Mngie  Tunnel  No.  S.  It  is  270'  long,  and  about  150'  south- 
westerly from,  and  penetrates  a  similar  formation  to,  the  preceding 
tunnel.     Yield,  15  libls.  of  green  oil  a  month. 

2.2.17.  Magie  Tunnel  No.  1.  It  is  200'  in  length,  and  about  400' 
distant  from  tunnel  No.  6,  and  70'  higher  up  the  mountains.  The  for- 
mation penetrated  is  sandstone  and  slaty  shale.  It  was  completed  in 
1891,  and  then  yielded  300  bbls.  of  oil  a  month;  in  1895  it  yielded  15 
bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.18.  Magie  Tunnel  No.  4.  It  is  125'  long,  and  is  nearly  400' 
northeast  of  tunnel  No.  1,  and  at  a  somewhat  higher  elevation.  The 
formation  penetrated  is,  earth  and  drift,  113';  sandstone,  12'.  When 
completed  in  1894  it  yielded  30  bbls.  of  oil  a  month;  in  1895  it  yielded 
8  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.19.  About  800'  north  of  the  last-mentioned  tunnel  a  decomposed 
slaty  shale  is  exposed,  which  exhibits  signs  of  solfataric  action.  It  is 
partly  covered  with  breccia,  which  rests  non-conformably  on  it  and  has 
the  appearance  of  not  being  in  place.  Farther  westward  evidences  of 
solfataric  action  are  very  conspicuous,  and  a  breccia  is  exposed,  which 
is  cemented  with  scoriaceous  material,  and  some  of  the  rocks  appear  to 
have  been  softened  by  heat;  others  are  decomposed,  and  impregnated 
with  alum  and  sulphur.  North  of  the  solfataric  line  are  bleached  shales 
interstratified  with  irregular  strata  of  'impure  limestone.  A  small 
amount  of  heavy  green  oil  oozes  from  these  shales  and  it  covers  the 
surface  of  the  water  in  a  small  reservoir  which  is  supplied  from  springs 
farther  up  the  mountain.  This  water  is  used  in  a  water-blast  (Figs.  21 
and  23)  at  the  Magie  tunnel  No.  6,  as  hereinafter  noted.  This  water  is 
hard,  but  not  unpalatable.  Included  in  the  Magie  group  there  are  also 
two  140'  tunnels,  which  penetrate  formations  similar  to  those  in  the 
Magie  tunnels  No.  3  and  No.  6.  Each  of  them  yields  about  15  bbls.  of 
dark  green  oil  a  month. 

2.2.20.  Farrell  <C-  Kimball  (west)  Tunnel.  It  is  325'  in  length  and 
about  1,000'  westerly  from  Magie  tunnel  No.  6.  The  formation  pene- 
trated is: 

Drift 45' 

Dark-colored  shale 75' 

Stratum  of  thin,  hard  limestone,  j'ielding  oil 6" 

Soft  sandstone  and  shale,  with  some  oil 112' 

Shale,  with  a  few  thin,  sandy  strata  and  a  little  oil 80' 

Soft  sandstone,  with  a  little  oil  and  much  gas 13' 


44 


CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


2.2.21.  At  the  end  of  the  tunnel  a  soft  sandstone  was  struck,  which 
yielded  a  little  oil  and  much  gas.  Work  was  still  in  progress  in  June, 
1895,  when  the  yield  was  60  bbls.  of  oil  a  month,  with  some  sulphureted 
water. 

2.2.22.  A  few  fossils  were  obtained  from  the  dark-colored  shale  in  the 
Magie  and  Farrell  &  Kimball  tunnels,  and  they  were  classified  by  Dr. 
J.  Ci.  Cooper  as  a  mixture  of  Eocene  and  IMiocmie  forms. 

2.2.23.  TJie  Water-hUifit  here  used  (Figs.  21  and  23)  consists  of  a 
sheet-iron  column,  C  B,  about  35'  long,  and  supported  by  a  light  derrick, 
and  enters  the  top  of  wooden  box,  D  D'  E  E',  Avhich  is  6'  long,  14"  wide, 
14"  high  at  one  end  and  10"  high  at  the  other. 


Wat^t^-  BLA5T 


WIND5AI  L 


•T-i:,'!' 


A  6"x6"  conduit  of  dressed  lumber,  G  G  F,  is  connected  by  a  tapering 
box,  F  E,  with  the  air-end  of  the  box  E  E'  D  D',  which  is  provided  with 
a  i"  slot,  H,  with  a  sliding  gate  to  regulate  the  escape  of  the  water. 
The  water  is  turned  into  the  top  of  the  column  from  a  i"  nozzle.  A, 
under  a  200'  head.  The  air  is  carried  down  with  the  water  and  forced 
through  the  tapering  box  and  conduit  to  the  end  of  the  tunnel.  The 
Magie  560'  tunnel  fills  with  gas  in  a  few  hours,  and  it  takes  the  water- 
blast  about  half  an  hour  to  purify  the  air  so  that  work  can  safely  be 
commenced.  At  this  tunnel  a  combination  track  and  foot-board  is  used. 
The  foot-board  is  a  plank  2'  wide.  The  track  is  formed  of  1"  x  3"  pine 
strips,  which  are  nailed  broadside  down  along  the  edges  of  the  foot-board. 

2.2.24.  There  are  six  tunnels  in  the  west  branch  of  the  middle  fork  of 
Salt  Marsh  Canon,  which  yield,  all  told,  about  100  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.25.  Adams  Canon  Tunnel.  It  is  900'  long,  and  is  situated  at  the 
northern  end  of  the  west  fork  of  Adams  Canon.  It  penetrates  forma- 
tions very  similar  to  those  noted  at  the  lower  west  Pinkerton  tunnel,  and 
yields  sulphureted  water  and  traces  of  oil. 

2.2.26.  Major  Moultre  Tunnel.  It  is  650'  long,  is  situated  at  the 
northern  end  of  a  gulch  which  extends  in  a  northerly  direction  from  the 
east  fork  of  Adams  Canon,  and  was  run  to  tap  a  300'  well,  which,  when 


» 


V.v 


I 


Fig.  21.    Watkr-Blast  and  Reflector  at  Magik  Tinnel 


Fig.  22.     J-ab  lonchas  .Mi.nk  at  l'aki'i.ntkuia. 


OIL    AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY. 


45 


first  drilled,  yielded  at  the  rate  of  30  bbls.  a  day.  This  tunnel,  near  its 
end,  penetrates  strata  wliich  show  evidence  of  solfataric  action  where 
they  crop  out  at  the  surface.     The  formation  is  as  follows: 

Crushed  shale 100' 

Reddish  shulc _ 50' 

Slaty  shale,  with  thin  strata  of  hard  limestone,  yielding  1  bbl.  of  brown 

oil  daily SC 

*       Hard  sbale  and  limestone  ledges,  yielding  sulphiireted  water  and  much 

gas 200' 

Hard  shale,  with  flinty  nodules,  yielding  a  green  oil 100' 

Thin  strata  of  Itlack  slaty  shale 50' 

Slate  in  strata  of  lU'  thick 100' 

On  exposure  this  slate  broke  into  thin  lamina?.  At  the  end  of  the 
tunnel  is  a  slaty  shale,  which  yields  green  oil  and  gas.  It  is  said  that 
this  tunnel  was  completed  in  1889,  when  it  yielded  900  bbls.  of  oil  a 
month.     In  1895  it  flowed  at  the  rate  of  50  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.2.27.  Wheeler  Canon.  Tunnels.  It  is  said  that  there  are  three  600' 
tunnels  in  Wheeler  Canon,  whose  combined  yield  is  300  bbls.  of  oil  a 
month. 

2.2.28.  Parker  d:  Orne  Tunnel  is  situated  in  Mud  Creek  Cafion,  and 
was  completed  in  1890.  It  is  said  to  be  100'  long  and  to  have  yielded 
60  bbls.  of  heavy  oil  a  month.  It  is  now  partly  caved  and  no  oil  flows 
from  it. 

2.2.2£C    YIELD  OF  OIL-TUNNELS  NORTHWEST  OF  SANTA  PAULA. 


Oil-Tunnels.                                               Tuniels. 

Length. 

Monthly 
Yield. 

Major  Moultre  tunnel,  in  Adams  Cafion - 

Feet. 
650 

50  to  325 

60  to  430 

60  to  560 

200  to  700 

600 

Bbls. 
50 

Farrell  &  Kimball's,  in  west  and  central  forks  of  Salt 
Marsh  Cafion __ .. 

9 

13 

4 

190 

Good  tunnels,  in  east  branch  of  Salt  Marsh  Canon 

Magie  tunnels,  in  west  fork  of  Salt  Marsh  Canon 

Pinkerton  tunnels,  in  east  branch  of  Salt  Marsh  Canon 

15 
238 
255 

Union  Oil  Co. 's,  in  Wheeler  Canon 

3 

300 

Total  monthly  vield..  

1,048 

Total  monthly  yield  from  oil-wells  in  Ventura  County  (see  2.1.70) 4,290  bbls. 

Total  monthly  yield  from  oil-tunnels  in  Ventura  County  (see  2.2.29) 1,048  bbls. 

Grand  total 5,338  bbls. 


CHAPTER  III. 


General  Remarks. 

2.3.01.  A  study  of  the  foregoing  maps  and  observations  leads  to  the 
conclusion  that  two  tunnels  may  run  parallel  to  each  other  and  pene- 
trate the  same  strata,  and  yet  the  oil  seepages  struck  in  one  tunnel  may 
be  absent  from  the  other.  When  oil  is  obtained  by  cutting  through 
sandy  strata  between  slate  walls,  such  as  the  sandy  strata  yielding  the 
green  oil  near  the  end  of  the  Gulch  tunnel,  it  is  probable,  other  things 
being  equal,  that  similar  oil  would  be  obtained  in  other  tunnels,  if  they 
penetrated  these  particular  strata,  and  were  not  far  distant  from  the  tun- 
nel in  which  oil  was  first  obtained.  This  appears  to  be  the  case  in  the 
Gulch  and  the  Orne  tunnels  with  regard  to  the  strata  named.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  will  be  observed  that  nearly  all  the  tunnels  on  the  south 


46  CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

side  of  Sulphur  Mountains  penetrate  very  similar  strata  which  have 
pretty  much  the  same  position  in  point  of  vertical  range,  but  that  the 
yield  of  the  different  tunnels  is  dissimilar.  In  a  general  way,  tlic  most 
productive  strata  are  those  nearest  to  the  solfataric  line  ])reviously 
mentioned,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  the  rocks  are  much  fractured.  An 
examination  of  the  walls  and  the  breasts  of  the  tunnels  shows  that  the 
principal  source  of  the  oil  is  from  crevices  in  the  rocks,  and  that  the 
course  of  such  crevices  is  apt  to  be  erratic. 

2.3.02.  There  is  one  feature  in  connection  with  the  oil-wells  north- 
west of  Santa  Paula  which  has  not  yet  been  mentioned.  It  is  this: 
Although,  as  previously  mentioned,  the  oil-lines  follow  the  strike  of  the 
rocks,  it  is  stated  that  very  different  results  are  obtained  from  wells  situ- 
ated nearly  on  the  same  line  of  strike  and  at  no  great  distance  from  one 
another.  It  is  probable  that,  in  some  instances,  the  oil-bearing  rocks 
have  been  missed  in  consequence  of  the  strata  beneath  the  surface  dip- 
ping at  a  much  greater  angle  than  their  outcropping  edges  indicate;  for 
a  very  thin  strata  of  tough  clay  or  clay-shale  would  suffice  to  shut  off 
the  oil.  The  most  important  fact  is  that  all  the  productive  wells  north- 
west of  Santa  Paula  penetrate  dark-colored  shales  and  soft  sandstones 
which,  in  the  main,  are  similar  to  the  rocks  penetrated  by  the  wells  at 
Tar  Creek,  Four  Forks,  Brownstone,  and  the  Kentuck  oil  claims;  more- 
over, the  fossils  obtained  indicate  that  the  formations  at  thpse  places 
belong  to  the  same  geological  horizon,  namely,  the  Oligocene. 

2.3.03.  The  territory  in  which  the  Bardsdale,  Eureka,  Fortuna,  and 
Torrey  Canon  oil-wells  are  situated  has  not  yet  been  investigated,  but  the 
following  statistical  information  was  obtained: 

2.3.04.  The  Bardsdale  wells,  about  3  miles  south  of  Fillmore,  are 
twenty-two  in  number,  whose  monthly  yield  is  about  3,000  bbls. 

2.3.05.  The  Eureka  Oil  Co.'s  wells  are  in  Limekiln  and  Smith's 
canons,  and  are  about  1^  miles  south  of  Piru  station,  on  the  S.  P.  R.  R. 
They  consist  of  four  wells,  400'  to  570'  deep,  and  are  said  to  yield  at  the 
rate  of  600  bbls.  of  oil  a  month. 

2.3.06.  The  Fortuna  wells  are  situated  in  Hopper  Canon,  about  4 
miles  north  of  Buckhorn  station,  on  the  S.  P.  R.  R.  They  consist  of 
eight  wells,  ranging  from  125'  to  400'  in  depth.  It  is  said  that,  owing 
to  the  low  price  of  oil,  these  wells  were  shut  down  in  the  spring  of 
1895,  and  that  only  500  bbls.  were  pumped  from  them  during  that  year. 

2.3.07.  The  Torrey  Canon  wells  are  about  3  miles  south  of  Piru  sta- 
tion, on  the  S.  P.  R.  R.  They  consist  of  nineteen  wells,  which  yield 
about  4,500  bbls.  a  month. 

2.3.08.  Petroleum  jrrodihced  in  Ventura  County  during  1895: 

Bbls. 

Capital  Crude  Oil  Co 11,000 

EureUa  Oil  Co 5,711 

Fortuna  Oil  Co 500 

Jones  Oil  Co 3,613 

Scott  ct  Gillmore  (represented  by  Union  Oil  Co.) 1,000 

Sisar  Oil  Co .i 10,800 

Union  Oil  Co.  wells,  in   the   Sespe  district,  Sisar  Vallej',  Torrey 

Canon,  and  on  southern  slope  of  Sulphur  Mountains... ...'.  200,000 

Oil-tunnels  on  southern  slope  of  Sulphur  Mountains,  owned  re- 
spectively by  Union  Oil  Co.,  R.  H.  Magie,  Good  IJros.,  W.  Pinker- 
ton,  and  Farrell  tt  Kimball 12,000 

Total 244,624 

Value* $244,624 

*  Estimated  at  current  price  of  petroleum  in  Ventura  County  for  1895. 


OIL   AND   GAS    YIELDING    FORMATIONS — VENTURA    COUNTY.  47 

2.3.09.  The  Union  Oil  Co.,  of  Santa  Paula,  handles  nearly  all  the  oil 
produced  in  Ventura  County.  They  have  established  a  new  system  of 
pipe-lines  connecting  Ventura  with  the  oil-fields  in  which  they  are  inter- 
ested. A  trunk  line  of  4"  pipe  connects  Ventura  with  Sespe,  with  3" 
branches  running  to  Torrey  Canon  and  Bardsdale,  and  2"  branches  to 
the  other  oil-fields.  This  system  comprises,  all  told,  about  100  miles  of 
pipe. 


48  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


P»^RT   III. 


THE  REGION  BETWEEN  SANTA  PAULA,  VENTURA  COUNTY, 
AND  SUMMERLAND,  SANTA  BARBARA  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Geology. 

3.1.01.  The  bleached  Miocene  shales  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  can 
be  traced  westward  to  the  Canada  del  Laga.  On  this  ranch,  aljout  5 
miles  north  of  Ventura,  is  the  Brea  Canon,  or  Weldon,  asphalt  mine. 
In  September,  1895,  the  developments  consisted  of  a  50'  tunnel,  partly- 
caved,  and  a  50'  incline.  At  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  is  a  2'  vein  of 
smooth,  black  asphaltum,  said  to  assay  about  40%  asphaltum.  It  dips 
S.  65°  E.  at  an  angle  of  about  42°.  The  wall  rock  is  tough  clay,  con- 
taining Quaternary  fossils.     (See  table  of  fossils.) 

3.1.02.  Through  the  western  part  of  the  Canada  del  Laga  the  Ventura 
River  has  cut  what  appears  to  be  a  hard  sandstone,  probably  Eocene, 
on  which  a  bleached  shale  seems  to  rest  practically  conformably,  although 
no  point  of  actual  contact  was  observed.  These  formations  dip  to  the 
south.  Nearer  to  Ventura,  and  apparently  resting  conformably  on  one 
another,  are  whitish  sandstones,  sandy  and  clayey  strata,  and  con- 
glomerate. From  the  whitish  sandstones  a  few  fossils  of  Pliocene  age 
were  obtained.  The  physical  appearance  of  these  sandstones  resembles 
the  whitish  sandstones  described  as  capping  the  ridge  which  traverses  the 
eastern  side  of  the  Sespe  district  and  the  southern  slope  of  Mount 
Cayetana;  and  the  clayey  and  sandy  strata  resemble  those  formations 
in  Santa  Paula  Creek,  Farther  southward,  toward  Ventura,  are  soft, 
drab-colored  sandstones,  and  fossils  obtained  therefrom  are  referred  by 
Dr.  J.  G.  Cooper  to  either  the  latest  Pliocene  or  the  Quaternary  period. 
Five  miles  northwest  of  Ventura  is  the  asphalt  mine  of  the  Ventura 
Asphalt  Co.  (See  article  by  Prof.  E,  W.  liilgard  in  our  Xth  Report,  p. 
763,)  It  was  idle  during  1895.  The  late  Tertiary  formations  extend 
westward  from  Ventura  to  the  hills  east  of  Rincon  Creek,  where  the 
bleached  shales  again  come  to  view.     (See  sketch  map.  Fig,  35.) 

3.1.03.  In  1895  solfataric  action  could  be  noted  at  more  than  one 
place  in  the  bluffs  at  the  southern  base  of  Mount  Hoar,  which  rises  to 
the  east  of  Rincon  Creek,  near  the  line  between  Ventura  and  Santa 
Barbara  counties.  At  these  places  the  rocks  are  perceptibly  warm,  and 
are  impregnated  with  saline  material.  It  is  evident  that  there  is  intense 
chemical  action  taking  place  in  these  shales,  A  few  years  ago,  a  70' 
tunnel  was  run  in  these  bluffs,  which  is  said  to  have  shown  a  tempera- 


REGION    BETWEEN   SANTA    PAULA    AND   SUMMERLAND.  49 

ture  of  130°  F.  It  is  also  stated  that  the  following  phenomenon  was 
observed  in  a  dump  composed  of  fragments  of  these  shales,  as  described 
by  A.  S.  Cooper,  C.E.,  in  the  "Scientific  American,"  of  December  30, 
1893:  "About  13  miles  east  of  Santa  Barbara,  an  excavation  was  made, 
in  the  bluffs  facing  the  ocean,  for  the  road-bed  of  the  Southern  Pacific 
Railroad;  and  the  gray  shale  from  the  excavation  was  thrown  over  the 
bluff,  forming  a  conical-shaped  pile  composed  of  pieces  of  shale  contain- 
ing from  one  to  eight  cubic  inches.  Water  could  easily  penetrate  the 
broken  shale  and  air  could  freely  circulate  through  the  mass.  When 
the  winter  rains  fell  upon  this  pile  of  shale,  chemical  action  commenced, 
producing  sufficient  heat  to  vitrify  and  weld  the  shale  together.  A  large 
part  of  the  shale  was  burned  to  a  red  porcelainite,  and  the  remainder  was 
turned  to  a  buff  color,  graduating  into  deep  shades  of  red." 

3.1.04.  In  August,  1895,  the  pile  of  fragments  of  shale  referred  to 
could  be  seen  by  the  side  of  the  railroad  track.  Many  of  the  fragments 
of  the  shale  were  partly  fused,  and  the  whole  pile  had  the  appearance 
of  having  been  subjected  to  intense  heat.  As  these  shales  did  not 
appear  to  contain  an  appreciable  amount  of  iron  pyrites,  the  writer 
sought  for  specimens  which  had  not  been  exposed  to  the  air,  to  see  if 
their  constituents  were  such  as  could  by  oxidation  produce  such  intense 
heat  as  that  which  had  been  observed  in  the  pile  of  shale.  The  point 
nearest  to  the  pile  of  shale  from  which  a  specimen  which  had  not  been 
"weathered"  could  be  obtained, was  the  Higgins  oil-well, of  Carpinteria. 
The  following  analysis  of  the  shale  from  this  well  throws  no  light  on 
the  question  involved: 

Silica  (SiOa) - 41.42% 

Iron  (FeO)  estimated  as  8.74 

Alumina  (AUOj)  estimated  as 7.14 

Calcium  oxide  (CaO) 10.72 

Magnesium  oxide  (MgO) 3.50 

Carbon  dioxide  (CO,) 15.98 

Bituminous  matter  " 6.32 

Moisture 6.18 

100.00 

Under  the  microscope  this  shale  shows  finely  disseminated  bituminous 
matter  and  marine  diatoms. 

3.1.05.  The  bleached  shales  are  much  fissured  in  many  places,  and 
the  faults  and  fissures  are  frequently  filled  with  bitumen.  In  some 
places  these  shales  are  inter  stratified  v/ith  bituminous  sand.  At  one 
point  strata  of  this  sand  show  more  than  20'  in  aggregate  thickness. 
These  sands  at  their  outcrop  are  blackened  by  dry  pulverulent  bitu- 
minous matter,  which  probably  is  a  residue  from  oils  which  have  lost 
their  lighter  hydrocarbons  by  evaporation.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  these 
sands  would  yield  oil  if  penetrated  at  a  suitable  depth  beneath  the 
surface. 

3.1.06.  Resting  non-conformably  on  the  bleached  shales  are  soft 
sandy  strata  containing  numerous  fossils  of  late  Pliocene  or  Quater- 
nary age.  In  Carpinteria  Valley  this  soft,  sandy  formation  is  pene- 
trated by  several  water-wells,  notably  one  on  the  ITiggins  ranch,  from 
which  a  small  collection  of  fossils  was  obtained.  The  best  exposure  of 
this  formation  is  on  the  west  bank  of  Rincon  Creek,  a  short  distance 
north  of  the  railroad  track.     At  this  point  a  collection  of  fossils  was 


50  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

made,  thirty-two  specimens  of  which  were  classified,  and  showed  the 
following  range: 

Livint;,  (Juaternary 15 

Living,  i^»uatcrnar"y,  Pliocene 12 

I-iving.  (^»ualernary.  Pliocene,  Miocene 9 

(iiiaternary - -. 1 

Pliocene,  Sliocene 1 

Undetermined 2 

3.1.07.  A  short  distance  north  of  the  junction  of  Casitas  and  llincon 
creeks  are  the  Santa  Ynez  Mountains,  which  enter  Santa  Barbara  from 
Ventura  County  and  extend  westward.  In  Sec.  24,  T.  4  N.,  R.  25  W., 
M.  I).  M.,  about  2  miles  north  of  Shepherd's  hotel,  there  are  springs  of 
heavy  oil  and  sulphureted  water,  on  which  oil-claims  have  been  located. 
The  formation  consists  of  hard  sandstone  and  dark-colored  shale,  from 
which  several  specimens  of  Ostrea  idriaensis  were  obtained,  which  show 
the  formation  to  be  of  Eocene  age. 

BITUMINOUS   DEPOSITS   IN    SANTA    BARBARA    COUNTY. 

3.1.08.  The  Punta  Gorda  asphalt  mine  is  rather  more  than  a  mile 
east  of  Rincon  Creek,  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  th(>  S.  P. 
R.  R.,  and  at  about  150'  altitude.  The  workings  consist  of  a  tunnel 
about  140'  long,  and  a  100'  shaft.  The  tunnel  cuts  through  a  vein  of 
asphaltum  which  has  a  strike  of  N.  20°  W,  The  thickness  of  the  vein 
in  the  tunnel  varies  from  10"  to  2',  and  dips  S,  60°  E.  at  an  angle  of 
about  75°.  The  wall  rock  is  the  bituminous  shale  previously  mentioned. 
At  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  the  shale  is  much  disturbed,  and  in  the 
tunnel  it  shows  a  dip  of  S.  30°  W.,  at  an  angle  of  about  70°.  The 
prevailing  dip  of  the  formation  north  of  the  tunnel  is  N.  10°  E.,  at 
an  angle  of  about  80°.  The  shaft  has  been  sunk  on  the  vein,  which 
shows  about  13'  maximum  thickness.  Tlie  asphaltum  is  a  uniformly 
black  mass,  which  exhibits  a  slightly  granular  structure.  The  follow- 
ing assays  of  asphaltum  obtained  in  the  Punta  Gorda  mine  are  from 
the  records  of  the  company: 

From  the  40'  level,  by  Prof.  Geo.  E.  Colby,  University  of  California, 
Berkelev: 


Lossat212°  F 0.83% 

100.00% 


Hydrocarbons ...)    c-n,i„i    qs  <snr   hitnmpn  .*  '^-^^ 

Fixed  carbon ^  ii-qual   ZH.dO/,   bitumen-  ^^^^^ 

Ash 70.67 

The  asphaltum  contains  28.06%  fixed  carbon. 

From  the  60'  level,  by  C.  A,  Ogden,  chemist: 

The  sample  of  bituminous  rock  contained  :  . 

Bitumen 28.53% 

Silica - 51.64 

Clay - 4.76 

Calcium  sulphate 2.45 

Calcium  carbonate 11.96 

Magnesium  carbonate 0.55 

Not  determined  .. o.U 

100.00% 

The    pure   bitumen   showed    the    following   condition   when 
treated  at  various  temperatures: 

Loss  of  oils  at  212°  F 2.65% 

Loss  of  oils  at  212°  to  480°  F 6.95 

9.00% 


■i^ . 


^ 


rjLf 


■'"■1 


1   ',         4** 


hW 


U.....,w 


•<Vi 


H 
< 


m. 


REGION    niCTWEEN    SANTA    PAULA    AND   SUMMERLAND.  51 

Above480°  F 40.72% 

Carbon - 49.68 


90.40% 
100.00% 

From  the  85'  level,  by  Prof.  Geo.  E.  Colby: 

].ossat212=  F 1.      0.71% 

S^^S?bCn"-:::-.:::::::::::(  ^^-^  29.91%  bitumen  j  }S 

Ash  - 69.38 

100.00% 

The  asphaltum  contains  37.30%  fixed  carbon. 

3.1.09.  The  Rincon  asphaltum  mine  is  situated  on  the  Rincon  ranch, 
about  1  mile  northeast  of  the  Punta  Gorda  mine,  and  at  about  900' 
altitude.  At  this  point  soft  Pliocene  sandstones  rest  non-conformably 
on  the  Miocene  shales.  The  workings  consist  of  a  tunnel  and  an  open 
cut.  The  tunnel  has  been  run  N.  80°  E.  and  cuts  through  a  body  of 
sand  which  is  impregnated  with  heavy  oil,  and  about  4'  in  thickness. 
The  walls  of  the  tunnel  are  soft  sandstone,  containing  a  few  fossils. 
Thirteen  specimens  Avere  obtained  from  this  formation,  and  classified. 
They  show  the  following  range: 

Living,  Quaternary... 2 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene 7 

Living,  Quaternary,  Pliocene,  Miocene 4 

Pliocene .' 1 

3.1.10.  About  50'  S.  30°  E.  from  the  mouth  of  the  tunnel  there  is  an 
open  cut  about  10'  deep,  which  shows  a  body  of  impure  asphaltum,  and 
appears  to  be  an  extension  of  the  body  of  oil-soaked  sand  and  asphaltic 
material  which  has  been  cut  through  by  the  tuunel. 

3.1.11.  In  the  railroad  cut  near  the  mouth  of  Rincon  Creek  a  soft 
bituminous  sand  is  exposed,  which  contains  a  few  fossils  and  dips  to 
the  north  at  an  angle  of  about  30°.  This  sand  is  several  feet  in  thick- 
ness, but  the  lighter  oils  have  almost  entirely  evaporated  from  it,  leaving 
it  dry  and  pulverulent. 

3.1.12.  The  Las  Conchas  mine  and  asyhaltum  works  (see  sketch  map, 
Fig.  35,  and  Figs.  22  and  24)  are  situated  on  the  seashore  at  Carpin- 
teria.  The  mine  consists  of  a  body  of  bituminized  sand  which  covers 
about  75  acres,  and  which  has  been  estimated  by  boring  to  be  more  than 
25'  in  average  thickness.  The  sand  is  soaked  with  maltha,  derived  from 
the  bituminous  shale  on  which  it  rests.  The  prevailing  dip  of  these 
shales  is  N.  10°  W.,  and  the  angle  of  inclination  is  for  the  most  part  70° 
or  more.  The  bituminized  sands  appear  to  be  horizontal,  as  they  dip  to 
the  northwest  at  a  very  slight  angle.  The  process  of  mining  is  as 
follows:  The  surface  soil,  consisting  of  6'  to  8'  of  loam,  is  removed  by 
hydraulic  washing;  a  thin  stratum  of  yellow  clay,  overlying  the  bitu- 
minous sand,  is  then  stripped  off;  the  sand  is  mined  with  hot  spades, 
and  conveyed  by  cars,  which  are  hauled  by  a  cable  up  an  incline  track, 
to  the  upper  floor  of  the  asphaltum  refinery,  where  it  is  dumped  into  a 
"mixer,"  consisting  of  a  steam- jacketed  cylinder,  in  which  revolving 
arms  break  the  lumps.  From  the  mixer  the  sand  falls  into  vats  of  boil- 
ing water;  the  maltha  floats  and  the  sand  sinks  to  the  bottom,  where 
revolving  "  worms  "  carry  the  sand  to  a  hopper,  feeding  a  "  bucket  con- 
veyor," which  conducts  the  sand  through  a  flume  to  the  point  of  dis- 
charge. When  each  bucket  reaches  the  point  of  discharge,  it  is  played 
on  by  a  jet  of  water  to  free  it  from  the  sand.     The  maltha,  called  "  crude 


52  CALIFORNIA    STATK    MINING    BUREAU. 

flux,"  flows  from  the  surface  of  the  water  through  a  flume  to  a  tank, 
whence  it  is  pumped  into  a  storage  tank  at  a  higher  elevation.  From 
the  storage  tank  the  "crude  flux"  runs  by  gravity  into  two  refining  ket- 
tles of  15  tons  capacity  each,  where  it  is  subjected  for  twenty  hours  to  a 
high  temperature,  commencing  at  100°  F,  and  finishing  at  240°  F.  In 
this  process  aqueous  vapor  and  the  lighter  oils  are  driven  off.  The 
"refined  flux"  is  carried  l)y  steam-jacketed  pipes  to  the  mixing  depart- 
ment, where  it  is  used  as  a  flux  for  treating  asphaltum  from  the  La 
Patera  mine.  This  treatment  consists  of  adding  the  refined  flux  to  the 
crude  asphaltum  and  revolving  the  mass  in  drums  of  5  tons  capacity 
and  at  a  temperature  of  about  350°  F.  The  amount  of  flux  added 
depends  on  the  degree  of  hardness  required  in  the  refined  asphaltum. 
In  about  five  hours  the  charge  is  run  into  a  settling  kettle,  wherein  the 
impurities  settle,  and  from  the  bottom  of  which  they  are  removed  l)y  a 
worm,  and  used  as  fuel.  The  refined  asphaltum  is  conducted  by  a 
steam- jacketed  pipe  to  the  "  barreling  tank,"  from  which  it  is  drawn  into 
a  traveling  kettle,  running  on  an  overhead  gear  and  discharging  the 
asphaltum  into  barrels.  During  all  these  processes  the  asphaltum  is 
kept  in  a  state  of  fluidity  to  admit  of  its  being  handled  with  celerity. 
The  process  of  separating  the  maltha  from  the  sand  and  refining  the 
"crude  flux "  is  a  continuous  one;  the  manufacture  of  the  refined 
asphaltum  is  intermittent.  The  capacity  of  these  works  is  75  tons  in 
twenty -four  hours. 

3.1.13.  There  is  little  doubt  that  the  petroleum  in  the  bituminous 
sand  at  the  Las  Conchas  mine  is  derived  from  fissures  in  the  Miocene 
shales;  still  there  are  no  productive  wells  in  the  shales  themselves.  In 
1894,  Mr.  P.  C.  Higgins,  of  Carpinteria,  dug  a  4'x6'  well,  354'  deep, 
at  a  point  on  the  seashore  about  half  a  mile  west  of  the  Alcatraz 
refinery,  which  proved  unproductive.  The  formation  penetrated  is  a 
purple-colored  bituminous  shale,  containing  a  few  specimens  of  Pecten 
peckhmni,  and  which  bleaches  almost  white  on  exposure  to  the  air.  The 
dip  of  this  shale  is  a  little  east  of  north.  Eastward  along  the  coast-line 
the  exposed  rocks  are  principally  bleached  shales,  which  at  some  places 
are  much  disturbed  and  contorted;  and  there  are  numerous  faults. 
The  prevailing  dip  is  to  the  north,  but  in  a  few  places  the  rocks  dip 
southerly.  This  bleached  shale  is  well  exposed  on  the  east  side  of 
Rincon  Creek,  at  the  base  of  Mount  Hoar.  As  before  mentioned,  the 
bleaching  of  the  shale  appears  to  be  due  to  solfataric  action,  or  to  some 
chemical  process  allied  thereto.  East  of  Carpinteria  Creek,  and  for  a 
distance  of  about  1  mile  from  the  ocean,  flowing  water  is  obtained  at 
less  than  150'  depth.  In  this  area  the  formations  penetrated  by  artesian 
wells  consist  of  irregular  strata  of  sand  and  clay.  East  of  this  artesian 
area  the  land  surface  rises,  and  the  Miocene  shale  is  struck  about  30'  in 
depth.  Westward  from  Carpinteria,  toward  Serena,  oil  and  water  have 
been  struck  in  shallow  wells  which  penetrate  the  alluvial  formations. 
This  was  the  case  on  the  Follinsboe  ranch  at  Serena,  al)Out  100'  north 
of  the  railroad  track.  Also,  on  the  Cheeseborough  ranch,  adjoining  the 
Follinsbee  ranch  on  the  south,  oil  and  water  W(n-e  found  at  25'  depth. 
Also,  on  the  Martin  ranch,  in  a  well  about  1,000'  southwest  of  the  well 
on  the  Follinsbee  ranch,  oil  and  water  were  struck  at  100'  depth.  It  is 
said  that  at  low  tide  an  oil-spring  is  exposed  on  the  seashore  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  Martin  ranch. 


THE    SUMMERLAND    OIL- FIELD.  53 

3.1.14.  It  is  about  a  mile  from  Serena  to  Loon  Point,  near  the  Ortega 
railroad  depot,  where  the  Fischer  oil-wells  are  situated,  as  hereinafter 
mentioned.  At  Loon  Point  strata  of  sandstone  and  conglomerate  dip 
east  of  south  at  an  angle  of  about  50°.  It  is  rather  more  than  a  mile 
from  Loon  Point  to  Ortega  Hill,  where  the  first  oil-well  was  drilled  in 
the  Summerland  oil-field  by  Mr.  Williams,  in  1887.  (See  our  Vllth 
Report,  p.  90.)  At  Ortega  Hill  strata  of  sandstone  and  conglomerate 
dip  S.  10°  W.,  at  an  angle  of  between  60°  and  70°.  J.-lesting  non-conform- 
ably  on  these  rocks  is  a  recent  formation,  which  dips  northeasterly  at  an 
angle  of  less  than  3Q°.  This  recent  formation  consists  of  very  friable 
sandstones  and  gravelly  strata;  one  stratum  contains  numerous  shells, 
and  the  lowermost  strata  are  bituminous.  This  recent  formation  can  be 
traced  from  the  seashore  to  the  railroad  cut  on  the  southern  slope  of 
Ortega  Hill,  where  it  terminates.  Northward  from  the  seashore  the 
land  rises  in  rolling  hills,  which  attain  more  than  300'  altitude  in  a 
distance  of  less  than  half  a  mile.  The  prevailing  rocks  in  these  hills 
are  light-colored  sandstones,  whitish  shales,  and  calcareous  strata.  On 
the  southern  slope  of  the  first  tier  of  hills,  a  dark-colored  clay-shale 
is  met,  which  constitutes  the  lowermost*  formation  which  comes  to 
the  surface  on  the  south  slope  of  the  anticline  on  which  the  Summer- 
land  oil-wells  are  situated.  This  shale  can  be  observed  in  a  tunnel 
run  for  water.  At  that  point  the  rock  exposure  is  rather  poor, 
but  the  dark-colored  shales  evidently  dip  southeasterly  at  a  great 
angle.  Farther  northward  a  northerly  dip  is  seen,  and  Messrs. 
Darling  &  Turner  state  that  while  drilling  their  well  they  observed  that 
when  a  hard  stratum  was  struck,  the  drill  had  a  strong  tendency  to  slide 
toward  the  north.  The  surface  of  the  hills  to  the  north  of  Summerland 
is  covered  with  alluvium,  principally  adobe  soil,  and  the  few  rocks 
which  are  exposed  show  numerous  cracks  and  cross-fractures.  It  is 
probable  that  the  underlying  rocks  are  also  fissured,  and  for  the  follow- 
ing reasons:  As  previously  mentioned,  we  find  at  the  shore-line,  strata 
of  sandstone  and  conglomerate  dipping  to  the  southeast  at  an  angle  of 
about  60°,  while  overlying  strata  of  recent  formation  dip  to  the  north- 
east at  an  angle  of  about  30°.  Two  distinct  earth  movements  are  thus 
indicated.  First,  one  in  which  the  rocks  were  inclined  at  a  great  angle 
toward  the  southwest,  and  later  an  earth  movement  of  less  magnitude, 
in  which  the  rocks  were  bent  nearly  in  an  opposite  direction.  This, 
together  with  the  closeness  of  the  folds,  fully  accounts  for  all  the  crush- 
ing and  cross-fractures  observed.  From  the  disposition  of  the  more 
recent  strata  it  appears  that  considerable  erosion  must  have  taken  place 
during  the  interval  between  the  two  periods  of  disturbance.  The  terri- 
tory in  which  productive  wells  have  been  obtained  in  Summerland 
extends  along  the  seashore  in  an  easterly  direction  from  Ortega 
Hill.  An  examination  of  the  outcropping  rocks  at  Ortega  Hill,  and 
a  comparison  of  the  depth  at  which  the  oil-sand  has  been  struck 
in  different  wells,  demonstrate  that  the  oil-yielding  formations  dip  a 
little  west  of  south  at  a  great  angle.  These  formations  constitute  a  por- 
tion of  an  anticlinal  fold,  the  axis  of  which  extends  along  the  crest  of 
the  first  tier  of  hills  which  rises  north  of  Summerland.  The  formation 
penetrated  by  the  oil-wells  consists  of  strata  of  sand  or  soft  sandstone 
and  blue  clay,  or  clay-shale.  The  oil  is  contained  in  the  sand  or  sand- 
stone, and  in  some  wells  it  has  been  observed  issuing  from  crevices  in 


54  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

the  clay  or  clay-shale.  In  all  the  productive  wells  north  of  the  railroad 
the  oil-sand  has  been  struck  at  80'  to  100'  depth.  South  of  the  railroad 
the  oil-sand  lies  deeper,  except  at  the  Williams  wells,  on  the  seashore, 
where  oil-soaked  sand  is  found  close  to  the  surface.  The  Summerlund 
oil  which  has  hitherto  been  placed  on  the  market  has  been  black,  or 
dark-green,  and  of  10°  to  15°  B.  In  a  few  instances  oil  of  a  much  less 
specific  gravity  has  been  reported.  An  inspection  of  the  oil-fields  shows 
that  there  are  no  prodjuctive  wells  north  of  a  line  drawn  N.  80°  W.  and 
S.  80°  E.  through  the  most  eastern  of  the  Doulton  &  Wilson  wells. 
Such  a  line  in  a  general  way  corresponds  to  the  strike  of  the  oil-yielding 
formation.  If  it  were  extended  westward  it  would  pass  a  little  south  of 
the  old  455'  well  of  Mr.  W'illiams,  at  the  summit  of  Ortega  Hill.  There 
is  a  reasonable  probability,  therefore,  of  obtaining  productive  wells 
between  this  line  and  the  ocean,  and  the  wells  drilled  by  Mr.  Fischer  at 
Loon  Point  show  that  the  oil-yielding  formations  extend  eastward  from 
Summerland  for  more  than  a  mile.  It  is  also  evident  that  the  oil-yield- 
ing formations  extend  south  into  the  ocean,  for  not  only  are  productive 
oil-yielding  strata  penetrated  by  the  Fischer  wells,  but  at  low  tide 
springs  of  oil  and  gas  are  unc'overed  on  the  seashore.  North  of  the  line 
mentioned  there  are  comparatively  shallow  wells,  from  which  gas  is 
obtained  and  used  in  Summerland  for  heating  purposes.  The  forma- 
tions underlying  the  strata  pierced  by  the  oil-wells  appear  to  be  princi- 
pally dark-colored  shales.  These  are  penetrated  in  a  1,000'  well  drilled 
by  Williams  &  Easton,  about  2,000'  northeast  of  the  railroad  depot, 
and  a  short  distance  south  of  the  axis  of  the  fold  on  which  the  Summer- 
land  oil-wells  are  situated.  ]Mr.  Williams  states  that  the  formation  is 
grayish  or  reddish  shale,  and  blue  clay,  and  that  at  a  depth  of  1,000' 
the  red  shale  was  saturated  with  oil.  A  520'  well  was  drilled  by 
Darling  &  Turner  on  the  ridge  about  one  quarter  mile  north  of  the 
railroad  depot,  and  at  about  200'  altitude.  It  is  probable  that  this  well 
is  a  little  north  of  the  axis  of  the  fold  on  which  the  oil-wells  are  situ- 
ated. Mr.  Darling  states  that  shale  and  sandstone  were  penetrated, 
and  that  some  of  the  strata  showed  traces  of  oil. 

3.1.15.  Alameda  and  Santa  Barhara  Development  Co.'s  Wells,  three 
in  number,  north  of  the  railroad,  are  from  165'  to  172'  deep,  and  each 
yields  5  bbls.  in  twenty-four  hours;  also,  two  wells  south  of  the  railroad, 
195'  and  210'  deep.  Each  of  the  two  last-mentioned  wells  yields  8  bbls. 
in  twenty-four  hours. 

3.1.16.  Backus  d-  Cravens  Wells.  These  two  wells  are  north  of  the 
railroad  at  Summerland,  and  are  100'  to  102'  deep.  In  1895  they  pro- 
duced 332  bbls.  of  oil.     Oil-sand  struck  at  70'  depth. 

3.1.17.  Cole  Well.  It  is  a  dug  well,  4'  in  diameter  and  90'  deep;  it 
lies  north  of  the  railroad,  and  yields  3  bbls.  of  oil  in  twenty-four  hours. 

3.1.18.  Dewlaney  Wells.  These  three  wells  are  north  of  the  railroad 
at  Summerland,  and  are  4V'  in  diameter  and  97'  to  123'  deep.  The 
yield  is  5  to  6  bbls.  per  twenty-four  hours. 

3.1.19.  Doulton  &  Wilson  Wells.  These  twelve  wells,  north  of  the 
railroad,  are  4^"  to  5|"  in  diameter,  and  were  100'  to  150'  deep  Avhen 
first  drilled.  In  1895  they  yielded  10  bbls.  each  in  twenty-four  hours, 
but  in  July,  1896,  only  yielded  6  bbls.  each.  The  four  wells  south  of 
the  railroad  are  168'  to  175'  deep,  and  each  yields  8  bbls.  of  oil  in 
twenty-four  hours. 


THE    SUMMERLAND   OIL-FIELD.  55 

3.1.20.  Fischer  Wells.  These  two  wells  are  at  Loon  Point,  and  about 
1  mile  east  of  Summerland.  One  of  them,  a  dug  well  on  the  seashore, 
is  124'  deep.  Its  oil  is  dark  green  and  rather  heavy.  The  other  well  is 
situated  on  Loon  Point,  about  80'  above  the  ocean.  In  August,  1895,  this 
well  was  185'  deep,  and  drilling  was  still  in  progress. 

8.1.21.  Forester  li'  Treadwell  Wells.  These  ten  wells  are  south  of  the 
railroad  at  Summerland,  and  are  186'  to  222'  deep.  Each  yielded  5  bbls. 
in  twenty-four  hours. 

3.1.22.  Lnomis  Wells.  These  three  wells  are  north  of  the  railroad  at 
Summerland,  and  are  140'  deep.  Each  yields  5  bbls.  in  twenty-four 
hours. 

3.1.23.  Moore  Wells.  These  four  wells  are  south  of  the  railroad  at 
Summerland,  and  are  206'  to  240'  deep.  Each  yields  7  bbls.  in  twenty- 
four  hours. 

3.1.24.  Stevens  &  Roberts  Wells.  These  three  4^"  wells  are  north  of 
the  railroad  at  Summerland,  and  are  130'  deep.  Each  yields  7  bbls.  in 
twenty-four  hours. 

3.1.25.  Williavis  Wells.  Some  years  ago  (see  our  Vllth  Report,  pp. 
89  and  90),  a  455'  well  was  sunk  on  Ortega  Hill,  but  abandoned.  Mr. 
Williams  has  six  wells  on  the  seashore;  one,  a  4^'x  5-3'  dug  well,  is  50' 
deep  and  yields  10  bbls,  in  twenty-four  hours;  one,  a  4'x  5'  dug  well,  is 
50'  deep  and  yields  3  bbls.  in  twenty-four  hours.  One  well,  dug  60', 
and  drilled  to  a  total  depth  of  77',  and  cased  with  9|"  casing,  may  be 
made  to  yield,  the  owner  says,  100  bbls,  in  twenty-four  hours.  One  57' 
well,  12"  casing,  yields  10  bbls.  in  twenty-four  hours;  and  one  61'  dug 
well  has  yielded  several  hundred  barrels  of  oil  by  bailing,  Mr.  Williams 
states  that  in  two  of  his  wells  which  are  the  farthest  north,  the  oil  is 
obtained  in  sandy  strata,  but  that  in  the  remainder  of  his  wells  the  oil- 
yielding  stratum  consists  of  blue  clay  or  clay-shale.  He  also  states  that 
in  the  dug  wells  this  clay  or  clay-shale  was  found  to  be  traversed  by 
numerous  crevices  through  which  the  oil  oozes,  and  that  the  dip  of  these 
crevices  is  southwesterly. 

3.1.26.  The  general  character  of  the  formation  penetrated  by  the  oil- 
wells  north  of  the  railroad  at  Summerland  is: 

Earth,  cobblestones,  and  gravel 10'  to    25' 

Blue  clay 70'  to  120' 

Oil-sand ...undetermined. 

South  of  the  railroad  track  the  general  character  of  the  formation  is 
said  to  be: 

Fine  sand 10'  to    20' 

Sand  and  cobblestones 5'  to    10' 

Sand,  with  clay  and  some  gravel 150'  to  170' 

Oil-sand '. 40' 

3.1.27.  In  some  of  the  wells  south  of  the  railroad  water  has  been 
struck  about  220'  depth.  In  many  of  the  wells  sand  is  pumped  up  with 
the  oil,  and  the  oil  is  run  into  a  "sand-box,'^  where  a  large  portion  of 
the  sand  settles.  This  "  sand-box  "  is  a  wooden  trough  divided  by  four 
upright  partitions,  which  run  across  it.  At  the  top  of  the  partitions 
are  notches  through  which  the  oil  passes,  and  the  sand  is  deposited  at 
the  bottom.  The  oil  is  run  into  a  tank,  at  the  bottom  of  which  a  10" 
space  is  allowed  for  any  sand  to  settle  which  may  still  be  in  it, 

3.1.28.  In  Summerland  there  are  several  wells  which  supply  gas  for 
fuel  to  the  residents.     The  most  remarkable  feature  about  them  is  the 

5-M 


56  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

pressure  of  the  gas  at  comparatively  shallow  depths.  Thus,  in  a  104' 
well,  at  times  the  pressure  was  so  great  that  mud  and  dirt  were  thrown 
from  the  well  40'  or  more  into  the  air.  (See  our  Xth  Report,  p.  601.) 
The  rate  at  which  the  pressure  has  decreased  can  be  gathered  from 
the  records  of  the  following  wells: 

3.1.29.  The  Cone  Gas- Wells.  There  are  three  2^"  wells.  Two  are 
about  100'  northwest  of  the  Doulton  No.  2  well,  and  the  other  is  situated 
about  50'  farther  southwest.  In  the  first  two  of  these  wells  gas  was 
struck  at  100',  and  in  the  last-mentioned,  oil-sand  was  reached  at  125' 
depth.  It  is  stated  that  when  these  wells  Avere  first  drilled  they  sup- 
plied twenty  families  with  fuel.  In  1895  there  was  only  sufi[icient  gas 
for  three  families. 

3.1.30.  The  Darling  Bros.  Gas-Wells.  These  two  2"  wells  are  situated 
about  1,200'  northwest  of  the  Summerland  railroad  depot.  The -forma- 
tion penetrated  is: 

Blue  and  yellow  clay... 99' 

Hard  limestone 100' 

Sand,  with  gas  to  bottom  of  well 102' 

The  first  well  was  drilled  in  1891,  and  when  completed  the  gas  showed 
a  pressure  of  8  lbs.  to  the  square  inch;  for  one  year  it  supplied  seventeen 
families  with  fuel;  the  pressure  gradually  diminished,  and  in  1895  it 
was  only  1  lb.  to  the  square  inch.  The  second  well  was  completed  in 
1892,  and  has  a  similar  record.  In  August,  1895,  these  two  wells  sup- 
plied ten  families  with  fuel.  It  is  stated  that  during  a  north  wind 
these  wells  yield  a  strong  flow  of  gas,  but  when  the  wind  ceases  the  gas 
ceases  to  flow  and  a  current  of  air  is  drawn  down  the  well  for  several 
hours.  In  one  instance,  the  latter  phenomenon  was  noticed  to  continue 
for  two  days  before  inflammable  gas  again  flowed  from  the  well.  There 
are  several  other  wells  in  Summerland  which  yield  enough  gas  to 
furnish  one  or  more  families  wdth  fuel. 

OIL-WELLS   NEAR   SUMMERLAND. 

3.1.31.  The  Occidental  Oil-Wells  are  in  the  Santa  Ynez  Mountains, 
and  about  5  miles  northeast  of  Summerland.  The  formation  penetrated 
(Fig.  35)  is  hard  sandstone  and  dark-colored  shale,  probably  of  Eocene 
age.  They  consist  of  six  wells,  which  are  200'  to  1,000'  deep.  In  all  of 
them  much  water  was  encountered.  In  August,  1895,  only  one  was 
being  pumped,  which  is  said  to  yield  a  few  barrels  of  oil  a  da3\ 

3.1.32.  Santa  Monica  Oil  Co.'s  Well  is  on  the  edge  of  the  Santa  Ynez 
Mountains,  about  2  miles  north  of  Carpinteria,  and  is  700'  deep.  (See 
Fig.  35.)  It  is  said  that  amber-colored  oil  of  18°  B.  was  struck  at  a 
depth  of  400',  and  that  the  yield  was  8  bbls.  in  twenty-four  hours; 
also,  that  when  the  well  was  deepened  to  700',  flowing  water  was 
encountered,  which  "drowned  out"  the  oil.  The  formation  is  hard 
sandstone  of  Eocene  age,  Avhich  dips  S.  10°  W.  at  an  angle  of  60^. 


SUMMARY. 


57 


3.1.33.    STATISTICAL  REPORT  OF  SUMMERLAND  OIL-WELLS  FOR  1895. 

Name  of  Producer. 

Nuinl)er 
of  Wells. 

I'roductiou 
in  1895. 

Alameda  Development  Co 

3 
2 
1 
3 
8 
3 
1 
3 
4 

l?blR. 
500 

Backus  &  Craven 

332 

Cole.S.C 

175 

Dewlanev,  G. 

400 

Doultoii  iV:  Wilson 

3,316 

Looniis,  ('.  A. ..  

3,000 
500 

Occidental 

Stevens  it  Roberts 

581 

Williams,  n.  L.  .  

8,100 

Total ... 

28 

16,904 

3.1.34.  From  the  foregoing,  it  appears  that  the  petroleum-yielding 
formations  in  the  region  herein  described  are  as  follows: 

(a)  Eocene  formations,  which  correspond  to  the  Eocene  formations 
noted  in  the  Sespe  district  and  elsewhere  in  Ventura  County.  There  is 
but  little  doubt  that  strata  belonging  to  this  formation  are  penetrated 
by  the  Occidental  wells  and  the  well  of  the  Santa  Monica  Oil  Co.  The 
southern  slope  of  the  Santa  Ynez  Mountains  between  Rincon  Creek  and 
the  Occidental  oil-wells  appears  largely  to  be  formed  of  rocks  belonging 
to  this  age  in  which  numerous  springs  of  petroleum  are  found. 

(/))  Bituminous  Miocene  shales,  which  bleach  on  exposure  and  cor- 
respond to  the  bleached  shales  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  and  elsewhere 
in  Ventura  County.  In  Santa  Barbara  County  there  are  no  productive 
wells  in  these  shales,  but  there  is  much  bituminous  matter  distributed 
through  them,  and  they  constitute  the  wall  rock  of  the  Punta  Gorda 
asphalt  mine. 

(c)  Pliocene  and  Quaternary  formations,  containing  secondary 
deposits  of  petroleum  in  the  form  of  asphaltum  and  bituminous  sand. 
The  former  class  of  deposits  is  represented  by  the  Rincon  asphalt 
mine,  and  the  latter  by  the  Las  Conchas  mine  of  bituminous  sand, 

(d)  The  Summerland  oil-yielding  formations.  As  yet  no  fossils  have 
been  obtained  from  the  oil-yielding  formations  at  Summerland,  and 
there  is  not  sufficient  stratigraphic  evidence  to  determine  the  geological 
horizon  of  the  oil-yielding  strata  which  are  j)enetrated  by  the  Summer- 
land  oil-wells. 

CHAPTER  II. 


Summary. 

3.2.01.  This  bulletin  is  designed  to  place  in  tangible  form  the  his- 
torical and  statistical  facts  relating  to  the  petroleum  industry  in  the 
portions  of  California  of  which  it  treats;  also,  to  describe,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  geological  horizon  of  the  petroleum-bearing  rocks,  and  the 
structural  conditions  under  which  valuable  deposits  of  petroleum  have 
accumulated  in  the  territory  under  discussion. 

3.2.02.  Although  at  this  writing  only  a  portion  of  the  necessary  evi- 
dence has  been  obtained,  it  is  in  order  to  see  how  far  the  work  done 
elucidates  the  problem  undertaken. 

3.2.03.  First,  as  to  geological  horizon.     At  Los  Angeles,  all  the  evi- 


58  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

dcnce  secured  indicates  that  oil-bearing  strata  penetrated  by  the  wells 
at  Second-Street  Park  are  of  Pliocene  age.  The  fact  that  in  California 
Pliocene  formations  have  been  observed  resting  nnn-conformably  on 
.^Miocene  rocks,  and  that  the  Pliocene  has  lierctofore  been  assumed  by 
many  to  be  exclusively  the  geological  horizon  of  the  petroleum-yielding 
rocks  of  California,  suggests  that  the  oil-wells  referred  to  have  penetrated 
Pliocene  strata  and  reached  oil-bearing  sands  of  Miocene  age.  The 
latter  conclusion  is  not  borne  out  by  the  evidence  in  sight. 

3.2.04.  At  the  Puente  oil-field,  the  character  and  position  of  the 
exposed  rocks  indicate  that  the  oil-yielding  strata  penetrated  by  the 
Puente  oil-wells  are  much  older  than  the  Pliocene  formations  observed 
at  the  base  of  the  Puente  Hills.  In  Brea  Canon,  the  Pliocene  formations 
rest  apparently  somewhat  non-conformably  on  oil-yielding  strata,  from 
wliich  what  is  regarded  as  a  characteristic  Miocene  fossil  was  obtained. 

3.2.05.  In  Ventura  County  the  rock  exposures  are  very  much  more 
satisfactory  than  at  Los  Angeles,  or  in  the  Puente  Hills.  In  the  Sespe 
district  the  petroleum-yielding  rocks  belong  to  two  different  geological 
horizons.  As  hereinbefore  shown,  the  formation  representing  the  upper- 
most of  these  horizons  consists  mainly  of  dark-colored  shales,  traversed 
by  thin  strata  of  hard  bituminous  limestone  and  by  sandstone.  The 
fossils  obtained  from  this  formation  demonstrate  that  it  was  deposited 
between  the  Eocene  and  Miocene  periods,  and  may  be  classified  as 
Oligocene.  This  transition  formation  is  penetrated  by  the  oil-wells  at 
Tar  Creek,  Four  Forks,  Brownstone  or  Los  Angeles  claim,  and  by  the 
Kentuck  wells.  The  rocks  penetrated  by  the  oil-wells  at  the  southern 
base  of  the  Sulphur  Mountains  may  tentatively  be  referred  to  the  same 
geological  horizon,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  oil  of  the  Silverthread 
district  has  its  source  in  rocks  of  this  age. 

3.2.06.  The  second,  or  lower  oil-yielding  horizon  is  distinctively  of 
Eocene  age  (heretofore  classed  as  Cretaceous  B).  It  is  separated  from 
the  upper  oil-yielding  horizon  by  rocks  wliich  are  several  thousand  feet 
in  thickness.  The  rocks  comprising  this  horizon  consist  of  hard  sand- 
stones, a  little  conglomerate,  and  dark-colored  shale.  Most  of  these 
distinctively  Eocene  formations,  which  the  writer  has  observed  in  Ven- 
tura County,  show  more  or  less  evidence  of  metamorphism.  These 
Eocene  rocks  can  be  traced  westward  from  the  Sespe  district  to  the 
Santa  Ynez  Mountains,  in  Ventura  County.  In  many  places  springs  of 
heavy  petroleum  issue  from  them.  The  California  Oil  Co.'s  well  in  the 
Sespe  district,  and  two  250'  wells  in  Echo  Falls  Caiion  north  of  the 
Silverthread  oil  district,  penetrate  the  hard  Eocene  sandstones.  It  is 
said  that  these  wells  were  drilled  with  a  spring  pole,  and  that  they 
yielded  heavy  oil  and  sulphureted  water. 

3.2.07.  In  the  Santa  Ynez  Mountains,  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  the 
Eocene  formations  are  penetrated  by  the  Santa  Monica  oil-well  near 
Carpinteria,  and  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose  that  the  rocks  pene- 
trated by  the  Occidental  oil-wells  are  of  this  age,  although  the  writer 
obtained  no  fossils  from  the  rocks  exposed  at  the  last-mentioned  wells. 

3.2.08.  As  previously  stated,  sufficient  evidence  has  not  been 
obtained  to  determine  the  geological  horizon  of  the  oil-yielding  forma- 
tion at  Summerland,  in  Santa  Barbara  County. 

3.2.09.  The  evidence  thus  far  obtained  warrants  the  conclusion  that 
the  oil-yielding  formations  in  the  districts  described  in  this  bulletin 
belong  respectively  to  the  following  geological  horizons: 


SUMMARY. 


59 


Xame  of  Oil  Field. 


Geological  Horizon  of  Oil-yielding 
Rocks. 


Second-Street  Park  wells,  at  Los  Angeles 

Puente  wells 

Breii  Canon,  in  Puente  Hills  .- 

Upper  oil-yieIdin>;forniationsof  the  Sespe  District. 
O'Hara  wells  and  t!ie  oil-yielding  formations  on 

south  side  of  Sulphur  Mountains  . 

Silverthread  wells --. _--.- 

Lower  oil-yielding  horizon,  Respe  District 

Santa  Monica  wells,  Santa  Barbara  County 

Occidental  wells 

Summerland  wells 


Pliocene.  [termined. 

Older  than  Pliocene ;  exact  age  unde- 
Miocene.  [Eocene  and  Miocene.) 

Oligocene    {i.  e.  transition    between 

Probably  Oligocene. 

Probably  Oligocene. 

Eocene. 

Eocene. 

Probably  Eocene. 

Undetermined. 


3.2.10.  The  following  definitions  Avill  explain  to  those  who  are 
unfamiliar  with  the  subject  under  discussion,  why  emphasis  is  laid  on 
the  geological  horizon  of  the  different  oil-yielding  formations:  Petro- 
leum deposits  are  divided  into  two  classes,  namely,  primary  and  secondary 
deposits: 

(rt)  The  primary  deposit  is  contained  by  the  rocks  in  which  the 
petroleum  was  formed,  or  originally  accumulated; 

(b)  The  secondary  deposit  is  formed  where  petroleum  wanders  from 
the  strata  in  which  it  originally  accumulated,  and  finds  a  resting-place 
in  other  rocks  under  conditions  which  are  favorable  to  its  storage. 

3.2.11.  Primary  deposits,  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  have  been 
found  to  belong  to  definite  geological  horizons.  Careful  investigation 
has  shown  that  the  oil-yielding  strata  of  which  these  primary  deposits 
consist  have  a  definite  position  in  the  geological  horizon  to  which  they 
belong;  and  frequently  the  oil-yielding  rocks  can  be  traced  from  fold 
to  fold  and  mountain  to  mountain,  wherever  the  characteristic  rocks 
representing  their  geological  horizon  are  exposed. 

3.2.12.  The  secondary  deposits  are,  in  the  nature  of  their  occurrence, 
erratic  and  local.  As  before  mentioned,  they  consist  of  rocks  saturated 
with  petroleum,  which,  by  means  of  fissures  or  other  channels,  has  found 
its  way  from  some  primary  deposit. 

3.2.13.  In  some  cases  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  the  primary  from  the 
secondary  deposits;  but  when  rocks  belonging  to  a  certain  geological 
horizon  are  found  to  be  oil-bearing,  not  only  in  one  place,  but  on  differ- 
ent folds  and  in  different  localities,  it  may  safely  be  assumed  that  such 
oil-bearing  rocks  belong  to  a  primary  deposit  of  petroleum, 

3.2.14.  The  evidence  thus  far  gathered  concerning  the  petroleum- 
yielding  rocks  of  California  leads  to  the  following  conclusions:  First, 
that  the  Oligocene  formations,  previously  referred  to,  contain  a  primary 
deposit  of  petroleum;  that  this  deposit  is  found  in  the  lower  portion  of 
a  certain  bed  of  dark-colored  shales,  and  in  certain  strata  of  sandstone, 
inters tratifying  and  immediately  underlying  the  said  shales;  that  the 
Eocene  formations  also  contain  primary  deposits  of  petroleum.  (At 
present  there  is  only  one  productive  well  which  derives  its  oil  from  this  dis- 
tinctively Eocene  formation  within  the  territory  described  in  this  bulletin. ) 

3.2.15.  At  this  writing  there  is  not  sufficient  evidence  forthcoming  to 
determine  whether  or  no  the  Los  Angeles  and  the  Puente  and  the  Sum- 
merland oil-wells  penetrate  primary  or  secondary  deposits  of  petroleum. 
Portions  of  the  slaty  shale  formation,  which  can  be  observed  at  the 
Sulphur  Mountains,  Carpinteria  Bay,  and  elsewhere,  and  which  exhibits 


60  CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    HUREAU. 

such  a  tendency  to  bleach  on  exposure,  may  be  regarded  as  containing 
primary  deposits  of  petroleum,  but  the  petroleum  is  too  diffused  to  be  of 
value,  except  where  it  occurs  as  veins  of  asphaltum. 

3.2.16.  Examples  of  secondary  deposits  of  petroleum  are  found  in 
the  deposits  of  asphaltum  and  bituminous  sand  which  are  described  as 
occurring  in  formations  which  have  a  vertical  range  from  Miocene  to 
the  Quaternary,  The  deposit  of  bituminous  sand  at  the  Las  Conchas 
mine,  in  Santa  Barbara  County,  is  a  typical  example  of  a  secondary 
deposit  of  petroleum. 

3.2.17  A  review  of  the  territory  under  discussion  shows  that  the 
deposits  of  petroleum  described  in  this  bulletin  occur  under  the  follow- 
ing structural  conditions: 

3.2.18.  At  Los  Angeles  the  petroleum-yielding  rocks  form  an  oil-line 
far  down  the  slope  of  what  appears  to  be  an  illy  defined  anticlinal  fold. 
There  is  no  geological  evidence  in  sight  to  show  that  this  oil-line  has 
any  particular  reference  to  the  axis  of  any  anticline;  oil,  and  oil  and 
water,  have  been  found  at  intervals  along  this  oil-line  for  a  distance  of 
more  than  five  miles.  At  the  Second-Street  Park  oil-field,  probably 
owing  to  the  effect  of  subordinate  folds  or  flexures,  conditions  have  been 
produced  favorable  to  the  accumulation  of  the  oil.  There  are  numerous 
faults  in  the  rocks  of  this  locality,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  the 
throw  of  any  of  them  is  very  great. 

3.2.19.  In  the  Puente  oil-field  the  productive  wells  are  situated  on 
both  slopes  of  an  anticlinal  fold.  In  Brea  Canon  in  the  Puente  Hills 
there  is  a  line  of  oil-seepages  along  the  axis  of  an  anticlinal  fold.  In 
the  Sespe  district  all  the  productive  wells  arc  near  the  axis  of  anticlinal 
folds,  and  at  or  near  the  termination  of  those  folds. 

3.2.20.  The  wells  at  the  southern  base  of  Sulphur  Mountains — the 
O'Hara  wells  and  the  Silvcrthread  wells — are  also  situated  near  the  axis 
of  anticlinal  folds.  At  the  Silverthread  wells  the  stratigraphy  is 
complicated  by  faults  and  fissures,  and  the  rocks  are  crushed.  At  Sum- 
merland  the  oil-wells  are  at  no  great  distance  from  the  axis  of  an  anti- 
clinal fold.  It  is  seen,  therefore,  that,  in  nearly  all  the  instances 
observed,  the  anticlinal  structure  has  presented  the  conditions  under 
which  the  petroleum  has  accumulated. 

3.2.21.  As  previously  mentioned,  the  prevailing  structure  of  the  rocks 
in  the  territory  under  discussion  is  that  of  closely  compressed  anticlinal 
folds,  and  the  compression  has  resulted  in  much  crushing  and  fracturing 
of  the  rocky  strata.  These  conditions  favor  the  migration  of  petroleum 
and  the  formation  of  secondary  deposits. 

3.2.22.  In  this  })ulletin  no  attempt  is  made  to  force  conclusions. 
When  the  evidence  in  sight  is  insufficient  to  warrant  an  expression  of 
opinion,  all  that  safely  can  be  done  is  carefully  to  record  such  evidence 
as  is  forthcoming.  In  such  case  it  is  a  reasonable  presumption  that 
eventually  further  evidence  will  be  obtained,  which,  when  coupled  with 
that  already  secured,  will  be  sufficient  to  warrant  the  formularization  of 
deductions. 

3.2.23.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  the  researches  made  in  the 
Eastern  oil-fields  well  know  that  it  lias  tak(m  the  combined  efforts  of 
many  able  men  for  years  to  collect  and  collate  the  data  of  the  oil -yielding 
formations  there,  and  it  cannot  be  expected  that  similar  work  can  be 
done  as  rapidly  by  a  few  in  California,  where  the  geology  is  much  more 
complicated  than  it  is  in  the  Eastern  oil-fields. 


Fig.  26.    St.  Louis  Rig. 


i'lG.    -1.      bXAli    iUG. 


4  r^%*-^     i£^b^-''t^^^''-^*^ 


Fic;   28.    Standard  Kig. 


REFINERIES   AND    DRILLING    MACHINERY.  61 


MISCELLANEOUS. 


CHAPTER  L 

Refineries  in  Los  Angeles  and  Ventura  Counties. 

4.1.01.  Asphaltuvi  and  Oil- Refining  Co.  The  plant  on  Santa  Fe  R.  R. 
Avenue  and  Ninth  Street,  Los  Angeles,  consists  of  four  stills:  two  of 
125  bbls.  each,  one  of  50  bbls.,  and  one  of  30  bbls.  capacity.  The  pro- 
duction is  lubricating  oil,  asphaltum,  and  distillate  which  is  used  for 
fuel. 

4.1.02.  Clark,  Johns  ct  Co.  Their  oil-works  are  located  at  Ventura. 
The  plant  consists  of  two  stills  and  one  retort,  with  a  total  capacity  of 
60  bbls.  per  twenty-four  hours.  The  product  is  illuminating  and  lubri- 
cating oils  and  asphaltum. 

4.1.03.  Oil-Burning  Supply  Co.  Its  plant,  at  the  corner  of  Date 
Street  and  Alhambra  Avenue,  consists  of  three  stills  of  100  bbls.  capacity 
each,  and  storage  tanks  of  total  capacity  of  5,000  bbls.  The  product 
is  distillate  for  fuel,  asphalt  of  A,  B,  C,  and  D  grades,  and  liquid  asphal- 
tum, used  for  fluxing  asphaltum  which  is  used  for  roofing. 

4.1.04.  Puente  Oil  Co.'s  Refinery.  It  is  at  Chino,  San  Bernardino 
County,  and  has  a  capacity  of  200  bbls.  of  refined  petroleum  a  day. 
The  refined  product  consists  of  illuminating  oil  of  120°  fire  test,  gasoline 
72°  B.,  benzine  58°  B.,  and  the  residues,  which  are  sold  as  fuel. 

4.1.05.  The  Union  Oil  Co.  has  removed  its  refinery  from  Santa  Paula 
to  Oleum,  on  San  Pablo  Bay,  in  Contra  Costa  County,  where  it  has 
erected  a  new  refinery,  which  has  a  capacity  of  12,000  bbls.  a  month. 
Product:  gasoline,  naphtha,  illuminating  oil,  and  asphaltum. 

CHAPTER  II. 
Drilling  Machinery  Used  in  Los  Angeles. 

4.2.01.  When  the  Los  Angeles  oil-field  was  first  developed,  horse- 
power and  hydraulic  rigs  were  used.  These  soon  gave  place  to  the  St. 
Louis,  the  Star,  and  the  Standard  rigs. 

4.2.02.  The  St.  Louis  Rig  (Fig.  20)  consists  of  a  wagon  frame  which 
carries  the  rig,  upright  boiler,  double-cylinder  engine,  and  grasshopper 
walking-beam;  a  1|"  cable  is  used,  and  the  tools  are  lighter  than  those 
used  with  the  Star  and  the  Standard  rigs.  This  rig  is  suitable  for  wells 
not  exceeding  600'  in  depth. 

4.2.03.  The  Star  Rig  (Fig.  27)  resembles  the  Standard,  except  that 
the  Star  is  portable;  it  has  a  Sampson-post  and  walking-beam.     The 


62  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU, 

sand  reel  is  driven  by  friction  with  the  inside  of  the  band  wheel,  and 
the  band  wheel  is  76"  in  diameter.  The  bull-wheel  shaft  is  of  iron  with 
iron  flanges,  and  is  situated  directly  back  of  the  Sampson-pont,  and  is 
driven  by  a  draw  belt.  The  rig  is  furnished  with  T  boiler  of  18  II. P. 
and  an  8"x8"  single-cylinder  engine.  It  is  provided  with  a  44'  mast 
and  a  34"  crown  pulley,  which  can  be  used  instead  of  a  derrick.  Tlie 
tools  are  much  heavier  than  those  used  with  the  h^t,  Louis  rig;  the  stem 
is  26'x  3i".     The  Star  rig  is  suitable  for  drilling  to  a  depth  of  800'. 

4.2.04.  The  Standard  Rig  (Fig.  28),  now  universally  used  in  the  Los 
Angeles  field,  is  so  well  known  that  minute  description  is  not  required. 
At  first  an  8'  band  wheel  and  a  1 2  H.F.  engine  were  considered  suflicient, 
but  as  wells  increased  in  depth,  the  diameter  of  the  band  wheel  was 
increased  to  9'  and  a  15  H.P.  engine  employed.  The  bull  wheels  are 
7'  to  7^'  in  diameter.  A  straight  sand  reel  is  used  on  account  of  the 
excessive  amount  of  sand-pumping  required.  The  frictional  pulley  on 
the  sand  reel  is  at  least  34"  in  diameter.  The  derricks  are  usually 
about  56'  high,  with  a  16'  base.  The  walking-beam  is  about  22'  in 
length,  and  8-^"  rig-irons  are  used.  The  timbers  for  the  sills  and 
Sampson-post  are  12"x  12",  usually.  A  2"  or  2^"  cable,  and  a  H"  to 
li",  hard-laid  sand  line  are  used.  The  stems  vary  from  22'  to  30'  in 
length,  and  from  3^"  to  4"  in  diameter.  Horizontal  tubular  or  firebox 
boilers  of  20  to  35  H.P.  are  employed.  The  Standard  rig  is  suitable  for 
drilling  the  deepest  wells,  but  for  drilling  below  a  depth  of  1,500'  a 
heavier  set  of  tools  is  needed  than  those  herein  mentioned. 

4.2.05.  It  is  said  that  the  actual  expense  of  drilling  in  the  Los 
Angeles  oil-field  has  been  about  50  cents  per  foot,  and  that  many  con- 
tracts have  been  taken  at  $1  per  foot  for  wells  of  less  than  1,000'  in 
depth. 

4.2.06.  The  diameters  of  the  casings  usually  used  are  ii",  4-h",  4^", 
5",  5^",  6|",  8^",  and  9|".  In  screw  casing  the  most  popular  sizes  are 
51"  and  71". 

4.2.07.  During  1805,  the  cost  per  foot  of  casing  at  Los  Angeles  was, 
for  51",  40  cents;  for  6§",  50  cents;  for  7|",  66  cents;  for  8|",  80  cents; 
and  for  9^",  $1..  A  steel  shoe  is  used  at  the  bottom  of  the  casing,  to 
protect  it  during  the  process  of  driving.  The  driving  is  done  from  the 
top. 

4.2.08.  The  price  of  labor  in  the  Los  Angeles  oil-field  during  1895  was : 
Drillers,  $4  to  $5;  tool-dressers,  $2  50  to  $3  50;  and  laborers,  $1  50 
to  $2  per  day. 

4.2.09.  Two-inch  iron  tubing  is  used  for  the  pumps,  and  l"  black  iron 
pipe  or  acme  iron  rods  for  the  sucker  rods.  Wooden  rods  are  not  used 
at  Los  Angeles,  on  account  of  the  great  specific  gravity  of  the  oil.  A 
common  working-barrel  and  working-valves  with  leather  cups  are  in 
ordinary  use,  but  in  wells  where  the  sand  gives  much  trouble,  a  Snow 
working-barrel  or  a  working-barrel  with  a  solid  plunger  is  emplo3'ed. 

4.2.10.  Allen^s  Patent  Pitmjnng  Rig  (see  Fig.  2^)  is  in  general  use, 
and  sometimes  twenty  wells  are  pumped  from  one  station.  Allen's 
patent  rig  consists  of  a  vertical  shaft  driven  by  a  bevel-gear;  upon 
the  upper  end  of  the  shaft  is  an  eccentric  to  which  are  attaciicd  the 
wires  or  pitmans  from  the  various  pumps,  preferably  in  such  manner 
that  the  pull  of  the  pumps  will  balance  one  another.  When  this  can- 
not be  attained,  a  counter-balance  is  employed.  The  stroke  of  the  pump 
corresponds  to  the  revolution  of  the  eccentric,  being  twelve  to  seventeen 


n^ 


■  1 
1 


/  ^-i  '>» 


A. 


lfc*'Vt 


Fig.  29.    Allen's  Patent  Pumping  Rig. 


OIL    AS   FUEL   IN    LOS   ANGKLES   COUNTY.  63 

strokes  a  minute,  according  to  the  gravity  of  the  oil  and  the  amount  of 
oil  pumped  at  each  stroke.  When  the  wells  are  a  great  distance  apart, 
connection  is  made  by  wire  cables  to  a  reciprocating  jack.  In  some  oil- 
fields the  power  is  conveyed  by  this  means  for  more  than  half  a  mile. 

4.2.11.  Steam  and,  in  a  few  instances,  gas  engines  furnish  the  motive 
power.     Oil  is  the  usual  fuel,  and  natural  gas  is  used  to  a  limited  extent. 

CHAPTER  III. 
Oil  as  Fuel  in  Los  Angeles  County,  and  Calorimetric  Tests. 

4.3.01.  Oil  is  largely  used  for  fuel  on  the  Southern  California  Rail- 
way, a  portion  of  the  Santa  Fe  system,  between  Barstow  and  San  Diego. 
More  than  half  of  their  locomotives  are  now  adapted  to  the  use  of  oil  as 
fuel.  The  burners  used  were  invented  by  W.  Booth,  formerly  master 
mechanic  of  the  Central  Railroad  of  Peru,  and  the  Santa  Fe  Company 
have  made  some  improvements  in  the  original  design.  Experiments, 
extending  over  a  period  of  six  months,  demonstrated  the  superiority  of 
oil  as  compared  with  solid  fuel.  An  average  of  the  results  obtained 
show  that  4  bbls.  of  oil  did  the  same  work  as  2,200  lbs.  of  Nanaimo  coal. 
Experiments  extending  over  sixteen  days,  with  a  freight  engine, 
19"x  28"  cylinders,  gave  an  average  evaporation  of  13.11  lbs.  of  water 
to  each  pound  of  coal  consumed.  Taking  coal  at  $6  65  per  2,000  lbs., 
and  oil  at  $1  33  per  barrel,  a  money  saving  of  27.1%  is  effected.  The 
oil  used  in  this  experiment  was  supplied  by  the  Union  Oil  Company, 
and  its  specific  gravity  was  23°  B.  During  January,  1896,  oil  was  used 
as  fuel  on  twenty-five  locomotives,  being  equally  divided  between 
passenger  and  freight  service.     The  results  showed: 

Oil  consumed  by  these  twenty-five  locomotives  during  January.    2,077   tons. 

Distance  traveled 87,063  miles. 

Average  cost  per  mile 14.39  cents. 

4.3.02.  The  gravity  of  the  oil  used  was  15°  B.  During  .January, 
1896,  coal  was  used  as  fuel  on  twenty-five  locomotives.  They  performed 
practically  similar  work  to  the  engines  fired  by  oil:  Average  cost  per 
mile,  23.20  cents,  or  practically  a  money  saving  of  37.975%  in  favor  of 
oil. 

4.3.03.  During  January,  1896,  the  cost  of  coal  was  $6  60  per  2,000  lbs. 
During  January,  1896,  the  cost  of  oil  was  $6  03  per  2,000  lbs.  During 
December,  1895,  an  overland  passenger  engine,  cylinders  19"x26",  ran 
7,347  miles  and  consumed  143.2  tons  of  oil.  A  similar  service  with  coal 
required  294  tons.  Taking  oil  at  $6  03  per  2,000  lbs.  and  coal  at  $6  60 
per  2,000  lbs.,  the  relative  value  shows: 

Cost  of  oil - $S63  50,  or  11.75  cents  per  mile. 

Cost  of  coal .$l,9i0  40,  or  26.41  cents  per  mile. 

Practically  a  money  saving  of  55.5%.  The  average  of  other  experiments 
made  with  oil  as  fuel  was  14.24  cents  per  mile.  In  these  experiments 
steam  from  the  boiler  was  used  to  atomize  the  oil  and  the  oil  is  heated 
by  a  steam  coil  to  a  temperature  of  100°  to  120°  F.  Two  4"  flat-mouthed 
burners  are  used  to  each  engine.  The  fire-box  is  protected  with  fire- 
brick, and  there  is  an  arch  of  fire-brick  at  the  back  of  the  flues,  similar 
to  that  in  coal-burning  locomotives.  The  Los  Angeles  Consolidated 
Electric  Railway  Company  made  a  series  of  careful  experiments  to  test 


64  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

the  value  of  Puente  oil  as  compared  with  Wellington  coal.  The  results 
of  tests  on  runs,  which  averaged  nineteen  hours  per  day  for  ten  days, 
showed  that  19.41  tons  of  Wellington  coal  had  a  fuel  value  equal  to  that 
of  2,957  gals,  of  oil,  specific  gravity  24°  E.  The  use  of  oil  also  saved 
the  labor  of  five  men  at  $2  a  day  each.  In  two  of  the  power-houses  the 
Wilgus  steam  burner  is  used,  and  in  one  the  Gilbert  &  Barker  aerated 
burner.  It  is  said  that  these  burners  give  practically  the  same  results. 
Oil  is  used  as  fuel  in  the  rolling-mills  of  the  Los  Angeles  Steel  and  Iron 
Company.  The  Crawford  and  the  Wilgus  burners  are  employed,  in  which 
the  oil  is  atomized  by  steam.  The  superintendent  of  this  company 
states  that  it  requires  about  1§  bbls.  of  oil  to  manufacture  a  long  ton  of 
muck  bar  from  scrap  iron,  and  about  the  same  amount  of  oil  to  manu- 
facture the  muck  bur  into  finished  sheet  iron.  Thus,  it  takes  about  3^ 
bbls.  of  oil  to  manufacture  one  ton  of  finished  sheet  iron  from  scrap. 
He  also  states  that,  for  steam  purposes,  3  bbls.  of  oil  equal  2,000  lbs.  of 
good  bituminous  coal;  and  that,  for  the  heating  furnaces,  2^  bbls.  of  oil 
equal  2,000  lbs.  of  bituminous  coal;  thus,  taking  coal  at  $6  65  per  ton  of 
2,000  lbs.  and  oil  at  $1  per  barrel,  the  use  of  oil  instead  of  coal  at  these 
works  effects  a  saving,  in  round  figures,  of  54.6%  for  steam  purposes,  and 
62.5%  for  the  heating  furnaces. 

4.3.04.  The  court-house  at  Los  Angeles  is  heated  by  steam  furnished 
by  two  boilers  of  75  H.P.  estimated  capacity.  Crude  oil  of  specific 
gravity  22°  to  26°  B.  is  used  in  Gilbert  iV:  Barker  aerated  burners  for 
fuel.  In  these  burners  the  oil  is  atomized  by  air.  The  engineer  states 
that  when  the  boilers  are  running  at  their  full  capacity  1  gal.  of  oil  will 
evaporate  15  gals,  of  water;  i.  e.,  practically  1  lb.  of  oil  will  evaporate 
15  lbs.  of  water;  also,  that  1  lb.  of  good  coal  would  evaporate  about  8  lbs. 
of  water  in  these  boilers. 

4.3.05.  The  Los  Angeles  Pressed  Brick  and  Terra  Cotta  Company 
have  five  kilns  whose  capacity  ranges  from  20,000  to  40,000  brick.  They 
use  oil  as  fuel.  The  manager  states  that  they  have  tried  both  steam  and 
air  burners,  and  have  concluded  that  the  air  burner  is  the  best,  on 
account  of  its  introducing  less  moisture  into  the  kiln.  That  estimating 
good  bituminous  coal  at  ^S  per  ton,  and  oil  of  30°  B.  at  !)>1  40  per  bar- 
rel, the  use  of  oil  efTects  a  saving  of  about  15%  in  the  fuel  and  also  the 
labor  of  one  man  to  each  kiln. 

4.3.06.  At  the  California  Sewer  Pipe  Works,  at  Vernon,  there  are  three 
20'  and  two  28'  down-shaft  kilns.  DeBow  steam  burners  are  used.  The 
manager  states  that  the  work  done  with  $85  worth  of  coal,  at  $7  75  per 
ton,  can  be  done  with  $30  worth  of  oil  at  60  cents  per  barrel.  Oil  is 
being  used  as  fuel  for  open  brick  kilns  by  several  of  the  brick  manu- 
facturers at  Los  Angeles.  It  is  said  that  1  bbl.  of  oil  is  sufficient  to 
burn  1,000  brick,  and  is  therefore  equal  to  i  cord  of  good  wood.  The 
price  of  wood  is  $6  a  cord. 

4.3.07.  From  the  foregoing,  the  relative  fuel  value  of  coal  and  oil 
shows: 

L.  A.  S.  ik,  I.  Co.,  heating  furnaces 1  ton  \Vellin<:ton  coal  ^250  bbls.  of  oil. 

L,  A.  S.  (t  I.  Co.,  steam  purposes 1  ton  Wellington  coal  =:  3.00  bbls.  of  oil. 

L.  A.  Con.  Electric  Railway  Co. 1  ton  Wellington  coal  =3.62  bbls.  of  oil. 

L.  A.  Court-House,  steam  purposes ...l  ton  good  coal  =3.10  bbls.  of  oil. 

So.  Cal.  Ry.  Co 1  ton  Nanaimo  coal  =  4.00  bbls.  of  oil. 

Those  who  have  experimented  with  oils  of  different  specific  gravity 
state  that  they  find  very  little  difference  in  the  actual  fuel  value  of  the 


OIL   AS   FUEL    IN    LOS    ANGELES   COUNTY. 


65 


oil  tested,  but  that  oil  of  a  high  specific  gravity  requires  to  be  heated  in 
order  that  it  may  pass  freely  through  the  feed  pipes  and  be  readily 
atomized;  moreover,  oils  of  high  specific  gravity  usually  contain  water 
and  earthy  matter. 

4.3.08.  In  1895  there  was  a  prevailing  opinion  that  the  oils  of  high 
specific  gravity  had  a  much  less  fuel  value  than  the  oils  of  low  specific 
gravity.  To  determine  this  point  experiments  Avere  conducted  in  the 
laboratory  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  Samples  of  oil  varying  from 
13°  B.  to  34°  B.  were  burned  in  oxygen  beneath  a  calorimeter,  which 
had  been  calibrated  with  hydrogen,  as  described  in  Bulletin  No.  3.  The 
samples  of  heavy  oil  were  cut  with  gasoline  and  the  calorific  value  of 
the  gasoline  deducted.  The  results  showed  a  range  of  from  9,999  to 
10,381  kilo-calories  for  the  samples  of  oil  tested.  This  was  sufficient  to 
demonstrate  that  there  was  no  great  difference  in  the  relative  calorific 
value  of  the  samples  tested,  but  limitations  as  to  time  prevented  a  sufficient 
number  of  experiments  being  made  to  work  out  the  relative  fuel  values 
for  the  different  specific  gravities.  The  samples  tested  had  been  com- 
paratively freed  from  water  and  earthy  matter. 

4.3.09.  It  is  interesting  to  note  how  the  laboratory  tests  compare 
with  the  practical  use.  Taking  anthracite  coal  as  a  standard,  one  ton 
of  which  is  equivalent  to  8,092  kilo-calories  (available  heat  units)  per 
kilogramme.  Comparative  working  tests  have  shown  that  an  average 
sample  of  Nanaimo  coal  has  an  available  fuel  value  of  6,684  kilo-calories 
per  kilogramme.  Calorimetric  tests  made  in  the  laboratory  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau  showed  that  a  sample  of  Los  Angeles  oil  of  0.973  specific 
gravity  (equal  to  13°  B.)  had  an  available  fuel  value  of  10,203  kilo- 
calories  per  kilogramme.  Practical  work  on  the  Southern  California 
Railway  showed  that  4  bbls.  of  petroleum  15°  B.  (or  1,352  lbs.)  have  a 
fuel  value  of  ly-g-  tons  of  Nanaimo  coal.  As  lyV  tons  of  Nanaimo  coal 
is  equivalent  to  6,683,332  kilo-calories,  therefore,  1  ton  of  petroleum  of 
15°  B.  (2,000  lbs.)  has  a  working  equivalent  to  9,886,585  kilo-calories. 

4.3.10.    RELATIVE  FUEL  VALUE. 


Available  "Heat 
Units  "  in  One 
Kilogramme. 

Available  "  Heat 

Units"  in  One  Ton, 

Calculated  as  909 

Kilogrammes. 

Nanaimo  coal 

Sample  of  Los  Angeles  oil,  13°  B.,  calorimetric 
test  in  laboratorj'  of  State  Mining  Bureau 

Sample  of  petroleum,  15°  B.,  from  practical  work- 
ing test  on  So.  Cal.  Kj-.  as  compared  with 
Nanaimo  coal 

6,684 
10,203 

6,075,756 
9,274,527 

9,886,585 

4.3.11.  From  the  foregoing,  the  following  ratios  of  fuel  value  have 
been  computed:  Assuming  that  1  lb.  of  coal  is  equal  to  1  heat  unit,  1 
lb.  of  oil,  per  Mining  Bureau  tests,  is  equivalent  to  1.526  heat  units; 
1  lb.  of  oil,  per  So.  Cal.  Ry.  Co.'s  tests,  is  equivalent  to  1.629  heat  units. 

4.3.12.  In  a  furnace  a  more  complete  combustion  can  be  secured  with 
petroleum  than  it  is  possible  to  obtain  with  coal.  Therefore,  it  is  not 
surprising  to  find  that  practical  work  on  the  Southern  California  Rail- 
way gave  a  somewhat  higher  fuel  value  to  the  petroleum  than  did  the 
calorimetric  tests  in  the  laboratory.  Moreover,  the  samples  of  petroleum 
used  in  the  laboratory  and  on  the  railway  were  dissimilar. 


66 


CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


4.3.13.  The  following  tests  on  the  relative  fuel  value  of  petroleum 
were  made  by  Prof.  H.  Stillman,  in  the  hiljoratory  of  the  Southern 
Pacific  Companj'-,  at  Sacramento.  The  calorific  value  was  determined  ))y 
Thompson's  calorimeter,  and  represents  theoretical  pounds  of  Avatcr 
evaporated  at  and  from  212°  F.  by  one  pound  of  fuel. 


Calorimetric  Experiments  with  Oil. 


B.« 


Lubricating  oil. 
Crude  oil 


24°  to  25°  B. 
16°  to  17°  B. 


WRtf.r  OaloriHc  Value, 

!!•„„         Lh         i»  Kilogramme 
EvapoFHted.     j  .,  ^^^^  units." 


20.09  lbs. 
18.25  lbs. 


10,788 
9,800 


Proximate  Analysis  and  Calorimetric  Experiments  with  Coal. 


Mount  Diablo,  Cal. 


Clark 
Vein. 


Clark 
Vein. 


Amador  County,  Cal. 


lone. 


Carbon 
Hill. 


Comax. 


Colorado. 


Carson. 


Moisture 

Volatile  matter 

Fixed  carbon 

Ash 

Sulphur 


Total . 


Color  of  ash 

Cooking  quality... 

Water  evaporated  by  one 
pound  of  coal..- 

Calorific  value,  in  kilo- 
gramme '•  heat  units  " 


8.15% 
38.24 
37.24 
11.45 

4.95 


100.00% 


Lt.  Brwn. 
I'oor. 


11.28 
6,057 


11.55% 

37.59 

3G.59 

9.05 

5.22 


17.65% 
43.;?0 
23.00 
15.85 


6.30% 

26..30 

50.70 

16.00 

.70 


100.00% 


100.00% 


100.00% 


Gray. 
Poor. 

12.01 

6,449 


Brown. 
Poor. 

9.65 

5,175 


Gray. 
Fair. 

12.9 

6,927 


.90% 

28.08 

54.38 

12.50 

4.14 


100.00% 


Gray 
Fair. 

13.52 

726 


.90% 

29.00 

38.23 

23.70 

8.14 


100.00% 


Purple. 
Good. 

12.06 

6,476 


FRACTIONAL    DISTILLATIONS. 


67 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Fractional  Distillations. 

4.4.01,  In  order  to  determine  the  character  of  the  oil  yielded  by  the 
different  formations  described  in  this  bulletin,  the  samples  of  oil  men- 
tioned in  the  following  table  were,  by  the  writer,  subjected  to  fractional 
distillation  in  the  laboratory  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  The  tempera- 
tures given  are  those  of  the  vapors  in  the  head  of  the  retort: 


Crude  Oil. 

Naphtha. 

Sample  was  Obtained  from— 

Specific  Gravity 

Nearest  Correspond- 
ing Degree  to  Scale 

Volumetric  Percent- 
age   of    Distillate 
cut  off  at  150°  C 

•o 
<t> 
o 

5 

a 
Q 

S  p 

a,  <^ 

<2  o 

O  en 

"-■2 

P  o 

Los  Angeles— 
Second-Street  Park  (a) 

0.9534 
0.9520 
0.9515 
0.9.539 
0.952S 
0.9565 
0.9580 
0.9816 
0.9702 
0.9672 
0.9513 
0.9657 
0.9672 
0.9692 
0.9125 
0.9129 
0.9196 
0.9015 
0.9402 
0.9366 
0.9255 
0.9369 
0.9442 
0.9590 
0.9435 
0.9769 
0.9302 
0.9486 
0.9398 
0.9333 
0.9773 
0.9193 
0.8893 

17°  B. 
17°  B. 
17°  B. 
17°  B. 
17°  B. 
16°  B. 
16°  B. 
13°  B. 
14°  B. 
15°  B. 
17°  B. 
15°  B. 
15°  B. 
1.5°  B. 
23°  B. 
23°  B. 
22°  B. 
25°  B. 
19°  B. 
20°  B. 
21°  B. 
20°  B. 
18°  B. 
16°  B. 
18°  B. 
14°  B. 
20°  B. 
18°  B. 
19°  B. 
20°  B. 
13°  B. 
23°  B. 
28°  B. 

Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 

7.6% 

8.4 
Traces. 

6.0 
Traces. 

5.0 
1       7.0 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
10.2 

Second-Street  Park  (6) 

Second-Street  Park  (c)  .  ..  

Second-Street  Park  (d) 

Second-Street  Park  (e) .. 

Second-Street  Park(/") 

Second-Street  Park  (jr)  ... 

Mackintosh  Well,  West  Los  Angeles... 

Maltman  Well,  West  Los  Angeles.  .. 

Summerland  (o) .. 

Summerland  (6).- 

Summerland  (c) 

Summerland  (d) 

Summerland  (e)  .. 

Tar  Creek 

0.7350 
0.7240 

60°  B. 

Tar  Creek 

63°  B 

Four  Forks.   

Kentuck 

0.7200 

64°  B. 

California  Oil  Co 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (a) 

07560 

0.7428 

55°  B 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (b) 

59°  B. 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (c) 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (d) 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (e) 

O'Hara  Wells. 

O'Hara  Wells.... 

Scott  &  Gillmore 

Scott  it  Gillmore 

Pinkerton  Tunnel 

Pinkerton  Green  Oil 

Magie  Tunnel ..  . 

Puente 

Puente 

0.7323 

61°  B. 

68 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 
Fractional  Distillations— Continued. 


Illuminatiug  Oil. 

Sample  was  Obtained  from— 

< 
a  9  o 

c»  (B  g 
O        B 

:  nr- 

CO 

•o 

n 
I-.. 

CD 
O 

O 

•5" 

=  g 

Deo 

O  en 

%■% 
P  3 

< 

O  p  o 

^  Cb  ^ 

o     B 

CO 

o 
O 

1 

55 
ST* 

B «» 

WO) 

n 

5"?- 

Los  Angeles— 
Second-.Street  Park(rt) 

Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 

Traces. 

Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
'J'races. 
Traces. 
11.0% 

8.0 

6.9 

8.6 

7.3 

7.6 
10.4 
10.0 

6.0 
Traces. 

5.6 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
Traces. 
1.59 
13.5 

7.0 
6.4 
9.6 
8.0 
1.6 
2.2 

0.8330 
0.8304 
0.8274 
0.8255 
0.8153 

38°  B. 

Second-Street  Park  ( 6 ) 

38°  B. 

Second-Street  Park  (c) 

39°  B. 

Second-.Street  Park(d) 

40°  B. 

Second-Street  Park  (e) 

42°  B. 

Second- Street  Park(/) 

Second-Street  Park  (q) 

Mackintosh  Well,  West  Los 
Angeles 

Maltnian    Well,    West    Los 
Angeles  .-. . 



1.0 

2.0 

Traces. 

Traces. 

Traces. 

Traces. 

10.4 

10.4 

16.8 

10.0 

9.5 

8.0 

8.0 

14.6 

10.6 

Traces. 

6.4 

Suninierland  (a) 

Suniinerland  (b) 

Siunnierlaiid  (c) 

Suninierland  (d) 

Summerlaud  (e) 

"'a8266"' 
0.7985 
0.8005 
0.8047 
0.8012 
0.7945 
0.8001 
0.8273 
0.8010 

Tar  Creek 

0.7595 
0.7430 
0.7684 
0.7600 
0.7640 
0.7673 
0.7614 
0.7680 
0.7556 

.55°  B. 
58°  B. 
52°  B. 
rA°  B. 
5.3°  B. 
52°  B. 
54°  B. 
52°  B. 
55°  B. 

41°  B 

Tar  Creek 

45°  B 

Four  Forks 

45°  B 

Kentuck 

44°  B 

California  Oil  Co 

4.5°  B 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (a) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (b) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (c) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (d) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  ie) .. 

46°  B. 
4-^°  B. 
39°  B. 
45°  B. 

OTIara  Wells 

0.7784 

50°  B. 

0.8032 

44°  B. 

O'llara  Wells 

Scott  &  Gillmore.- 

12.0 

Traces. 

9.6 

11.6 

0.8044 

'"b'8085" 
0.8015 

44°  B. 

Scott  ct  Gillmore.- .. 

Pinkerton  Tunnel 

43°  B. 

Pinkerton  Oreen  Oil 

45°  B. 

Magie  Tunnel 

Puente 

0.7660 
0.7656 

52°  B. 
53°  B. 

10.8 
12.2 

0.8013 
0.8089 

4.5°  B 

Puente 

43°  B. 

FRACTIONAL    DISTILLATIONS. 


69 


Fractional  Distillations— Continued. 


Illuminating  Oil— Continued. 

Lubricating  OiL 

Sample  was  Obtained  from— 

< 

f5  »  O 

Pi 
p      2. 

om  (0 

i  »^ 

CO 

•0 
n 

a 

55 

►-•to 
a  p 
'^  2 

On 

Wo 

|s 

< 

0  p  0 
cos  s^ 

c»(B  g 

0  B 
p  ^1-1 

coo" 

01  jr.  1^ 

ill 

•0 
a 

S  p 

m  1 

Om 

li 

0  a> 

p  a 

Los  Angeles— 
Second-Street  Park  (a) 

13.6% 

15.3 

16.8 

17.6 

12.0 

11.4 

11.2 

1.6 

80 
11.0 
19.4 
11.6 

6.0 

0.8653 
0.8809 
0.8710 
0.8771 
0.8642 
0.8662 
0.8721 

32°  B.     i 
29°  ]5.     ! 
31°  13. 
36°  B. 
32°  B. 
32°  B. 
30°  B. 

.0% 

8.0 
5.0 
4.0 
3.4 

7.0 

4.4 

9.6 

5.0 
12.0 

6.8 

5.0 

4.6 

6.0 

4.0 

6.6 

2.5 

2.9 

5.8 

6.4 

7.6 

4.0 

7.0 

6.0 

3.0 

3.2 

7.6 

5.0 

5.0 
16.0 

2.9 

8.3 

Second-Street  Park  (b) 

Second-Street  Park  (c) 

Second-Street  Parlv  (ci) 

Second-Street  Parlv  (e)  ..  .. 

0.8890 
0.8895 
0.8922 

27°  B. 
27°  B. 
27°  B. 

Second-Street  Park  (/) 

Second-Street  Park  (g) .  ... 
Mackintosh  Well,  West  Los 
Angeles 

0.8820 

29°  B. 

Maltnian    Well,    West     Los 
Angeles       -       . .- 

0.8680 
0.8452 
0.8550 
0.8468 

31°  B. 
36°  B. 
34°  B. 
36°  B. 

Sumnierland  (a) . .. 

0.8722 
0.8962 
0.8900 

30°  B. 

Sunimerland  (6) .. 

26°  B. 

Sumnierland  (c)  -         ..  . 

27°  B. 

Sunimerland  (d) . . 

Sumnierland  (e) 

Tar  Creek 

12.4 

14.2 

9.7 

12  2 

11:3 

7.6 

9.8 

9.6 

11.0 

5.0 

14.4 

18.0 

16.0 

6.0 

17.2 

16.0 

0.8514 
0.8602 
0.8369 
0.8450 
0.8,502 
0.8403 
0.8430 
0.8478 
0.8525 
0.8500 
0.8532 
0.8530 
0.8443 
0.8465 
0.8500 
0.8406 

34°  B. 
33°  B. 
38°  B. 
36°  B. 
34°  B. 
36°  B. 
.36°  B. 
37°  B. 
34°  B. 
35°  B. 
34°  B. 
34°  B. 
36°  B. 
35°  B. 
35°  B. 
37°  B 

0.8834 

29°  B. 

Tar  Creek 

Four  Forks -. 

0.8604 
0.8662 
0.8608 
0.8746 
0.8612 
0.8791 
0.8790 
0.8780 
0.8738 

33°  B. 

Kentuck  ... 

.32°  B. 

California  Oil  Co. 

33°  B. 

Silverthread  Oil  District  (a) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (6) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (c) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (d) .. 
Silverthread  Oil  District  (e) .. 
O'Hara  Wells 

30°  B. 
3.3°  B. 
29°  B. 
29°  B. 
29°  B. 
30°  B. 

O'Hara  Wells      

Scott  &  Gillmore 

Scott  it  Gillmore 

0.8603 
0.8701 
0.8620 
0.8701 
0.8610 
0.8502 

33°  B. 

Pinkerton  Tunnel 

Pinkerton  Green  Oil 

Magie  Tunnel          ..  

31°  B. 
33°  B. 
31°  B. 

Puente 

Puente 

9.3 
10.2 

0.8500 
0.8413 

.35°  B. 
36°  B. 

33°  B. 
34°  B. 

70 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


4.4.02.  The  following  samples  of  crude  oil  from  districts  referred  to 
in  this  bulletin  were  subjected  to  fractional  distillation  in  the  laboratory 
of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  by  \V.  D.  Johnston  in  1887: 


Crude  Oil. 

Naphtha. 

CD                   55 

w 

CO 

is 

a 

Cb 

55 

^          E-| 

{L 

"8 

?g 

•0 
a 

ag 

Localitv  from  which 

n               TO  j; 

5           t;2 

o 

B) 

m3 

0 
4 

0 

Sample  was  Obtained.          ^ 

■So 

g 

a  o 

0 

0 

» «-► 
"Bo 

"-1 

<e  o 

o 

a 

3 

0  0 

% 

a  -1 
o2 

O 

-1 

3  OJ 

p 

to 

^3 

•< 

(i  O 

^9- 

•< 

IS  3 
•  9' 

i 

V) 

ct,r) 
0  0 

p>  3 

Tar  Creek 

0.833 
0.859 

28°  B. 
33°  B. 

10.0% 
9.1 

0.720 
0.700 

64°  B. 
70°  B. 

6.8% 
9.2 

0.755 
0.734 

55°  B. 

Sespe  No.  2 

61°  B. 

Green  Oil  Well,  Adams 

, 

Canon -   .. 

0.853 

34°  B. 

7.8 

0.740 

50°  B. 

Wild      Bill,      Adams 

Canon . 

0915 

0.822 

23°  B. 
28°  B. 

Puente                      

10.6 

0.717 

65°  B. 

8.7 

0.747 

57°  B. 

""     """i 

Napht 

ha— Continued. 

Illuminating  Oils. 

r^ 

a 

"2 

O 

o 

ooS 

0 

n 

05? 

Locality  from  which  Sample 
was  Obtained. 

g 

a 

O 

"So 

0 

0 

cS 

1-1 

S  o 

*~l 

rtl  0 

p 

p 

5 

S2 

i 

•^ 

co-a 
n  o 
P  3 

1 

■<i 

Tar  Creek 

5.5% 
8.8 

0.777 
0.762 

50°  B. 
54°  B. 

9.7% 
11.8 

0.S09 

0.798 

Sespe  So.  2 

54°  B. 

Green  oil  Weil,  Adams  Canon 

9.0 
9.2 

7.7 

0.762 
0.732 
0.771 

51°  B. 
61°  B. 
51°  B. 

18.0 
10.8 
10.2 

0.795 
0.813 
0.803 

46°  B. 

AVild  Bill,  Adams  Cane 
Puente  

n  .. 

42°  B. 

44°  B. 

Ilium 

Inating  0 

ils— Cout 

inued. 

w 

CO 

^21 

» 

CO 

55 

a 

•o 

Sl 

fl) 

•0 

— *A 

.—. 

«5 

o 

a 

"2 

0 

0 

Locality  from  which  Sample 
was  Obtained. 

g 

B5 

a 

02 

^ 

0 

o2 

re  iTi. 

a>  0 

a  0 

Q 

1 

®  3 

p 

1 

52 

; 

•4 

tr.-o 

0  0 
p  3 

"< 

P  3 

Tar  Creek                               

9.0 
14.4 

0.889 
0.822 
0.832 

33°  B. 

40°  B. 
38°  B. 

7.1% 
8.0 
10.0 

0.889 
0.876 
0.861 

27°  B. 

Sespe  No.2      - 

30°  B. 

Green  Oil  Well,  Adams  Cafion 

33°  B. 

Wild  Bill,  Adams  Cafion 

8.0 

0.M46 

35°  B. 

7.7 

0.880 

29°  B. 

-Pupnte                              1. 

7.2 

0.845 

36°  B. 

6.0 

,    0.881 

29°  B. 

FRACTIONAL    DISTILLATIONS. 


71 


4.4.03.  A  review  of  these  tables  shows  that  the  naphthas  and  distil- 
lates below  200°  C.  are  practically  absent  from  the  Los  Angeles  and  the 
Summerland  oils,  and  that  the  oils  from  Puente,  the  Sespe  district,  and 
the  districts  north  of  Santa  Paula,  not  only  yield  naphthas,  but  a  much 
larger  percentage  of  the  illuminating  oils  than  do  the  oils  from  Los 
Angeles  and  Summerland.  Some  of  the  samples  of  oil  from  Los 
Angeles  and  Summerland  and  the  sample  from  the  Magie  tunnel  con- 
tained water  and  held  mineral  matter  in  suspension. 

4.4.04.  With  the  following  samples  distillation  was  continued  at 
temperatures  of  more  than  350°  C.  The  temperature  was  gradually 
increased  and  the  distillates,  a,  h,  c,  and  d,  were  cut  off  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  mentioned: 


SAMPLE  OF  OIL  FROM  PUENTE  OIL-WELLS. 
(Specific  gravity,  0.8893,  or  about  28°  B.) 


Temperature 

at  which  Distillates 

were  Cut  Off. 


Percentage 
'  by  Volume. 


Percentage 
by  Weight. 


Specific 
Gravity. 


Nearest 

Degree  to 

Scale. 


Character  of 
Distillate,  Etc. 


150°  C 
200°  C 
250°  C 
300°  C 
350°  C, 
(rt)--- 
(6)... 
(c)  ... 


10.20 
13.47 
12.24 
10.20 

8.67 
15.82 
16.33 

4.08 


8.42 

11.67 

1L13 

9.67 

8.29 

15.16 

15.54 

4.17 

324 

12.71 


0.7323 
0.7656 
0.8089 
0  8413 
0.8502 
0.8529 
0.8469 
0.9090 


61°  B. 
53°  B. 
4.3°  B. 
36°  B. 
34°  B. 
34°  B. 
35°  B. 
24°  B. 


Naphtha. 
Illuminating  oil. 
Illuminating  oil. 
Illuminating  oil. 
Gas  distillate. 
Gas  distillate. 
Gas  distillate. 
Lubricating  oil. 
Residue. 
Loss.  * 


SAMPLE    OF    OIL 


FROM  WELL 
DISTRICT. 


OF   CALIFORNIA    OIL 
(Specific  gravity,  0.9402.) 


CO.,  IN    THE    SESPE 


200°  C 
250°  C 
300°  C 
350°  C 
(a)... 

(6)  — 
(c)  -. 
(d)... 


7.37 

9.47 

11.37 

2.95 

19.48 

27.89 

6.11 

2.95 


6.00 
8.07 

10.28 
2.70 

18.45 

26.45 
5.57 
3.00 

10.18 
9.30 


0.7649 
0.8012 
0.8506 
0.8608 
0.8906 
0.8914 
0.8585 
0.9479 


53°  B. 
45°  B. 
34°  B. 
33°  B. 

27°  B. 
27°  B. 
33°  B. 
18°  B. 


Illuminating  oil. 
Illuminating   oil. 
Illuminating  oil. 
Gas  distillate. 
Lubricating  oil. 
Lubricating  oil. 
Gas  distillate 
Lubricating  oil. 
Residue. 
Loss. 


SAMPLE  OF  OIL  FROM  FOUR  FORKS,  SESPE  DISTRICT.    (Specific  gravity,  0.9196.) 


200°  C 
250°  C 
300°  C 
350°  C 
(a)... 
(6)... 


6.94 

16.84 

9.69 

6.63 

15.51 

37.14 


5.80 

14.64 

8.82 

6.21 

14.31 

36.37 

4.72 

9.13 


0.7684 
0.8005 
0.8396 
0.8604 
0.8493 
0.8980 


52°  B. 
45°  B. 
38°  B. 
33°  B. 
35°  B. 
26°  B. 


Illuminating  oil. 
Illuminating  oil. 
Illuminating  oil. 
Gas  distillate. 
Gas  distillate. 
Lubricating  oil. 
Residue. 
Loss. 


6-M 


72 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


SAMPLE  OF  GREEN  OIL  FROM  PINKERTON  TUNNEL,  KOUTII  SIDE  OF  SUL- 
PHUR MOUNTAINS.    (Specific  gravity,  0.9333.) 


Temperature 

at  which  Distillates 

were  Cut  off. 


Percentage 
by  Volume. 


Percentage 
by  Weight. 


Specific 
Gravity. 


Nearest 
Degree  to 

•Scale. 


Character  of 
Distillate,  Etc. 


250°  C. 
300°  C. 
350°  C. 
(a).... 
(b).... 
(c)  .... 
(d).... 


11.6 
16.0 

.3.0 
17.0 
25.6 
11.6 

6.0 


9.26 
14.41 

4.62 
16.23 
24.50 
10.53 

6.18 

9.28 


0.8015 
0.8406 
0.8620 
0.8914 
0.8925 
0.8473 
0.9615 


45°  B. 
37°  B. 
33°  B. 
27°  B. 
27°  B. 
35°  B. 
16°  B. 


Illuminating  oil. 
Illuniinuting  oil. 
(ias  distillate. 
Lubricating  oil. 
Lubricating  oil. 
Gas  distillate. 
T..ubricating  oiL 
Residue. 
Loss. 


4.4.05.  As  is  shown  by  the  records  of  the  distillations  made  at  tem- 
peratures of  more  than  350°  C,  there  was  some  decomposition,  which 
resulted  in  the  oil  "  cracking,"  and  the  formation  of  a  distillate  possess- 
ing a  lower  specific  gravity  than  that  of  the  preceding  fraction.  Nearly 
all  the  distillates  obtained  at  and  above  a  temperature  of  350°  C.  had 
an  offensive  odor.  The  residuum  consisted  of  a  brilliant  black  material, 
a  sample  of  which  showed  as  follows : 

Soluble  in  alcohol 1% 

Soluble  in  ether -    7 

Soluble  in  carbon  disulphide.. -. 6 

Insoluble  hydrocarbons ---  12 

Fixed  carbon  _..  16 

,       Ash 58 

The  loss  during  the  process  of  distillation  practically  ranged  from  9% 
to  12% ;  it  resulted,  no  doubt,  from  the  escape  of  steam  and  gas. 


ORIGINAL   RESEARCHES,    ANALYSES,    ETC.,   OF   PETROLEUM.  7S 


RESUME    OF    ORIGINAL    RESEARCHES,    ANALYSES,    AND    REFINING 

METHODS  OF  PETROLEUM,  MAINLY  FROM  THE 

SOUTHERN  COUNTIES  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

By  Frederick  S.VLATHfe,  Ph.D. 


ORIGIN. 


The  opinions  on  the  origin  of  petroleum  still  differ  widely  among 
chemists,  but  through  the  classic  researches  recently  made  by  Engler, 
who  has  produced  the  complete  series  of  paraffins,  identical  with  the 
petroleum-hydrocarbons,  by  synthesis  from  fish  oils  under  pressure  during 
distillation,  the  theory  of  animal  origin  of  petroleum  has  become  most 
plausible. 

The  question  has  been  asked,  what  has  become  of  the  nitrogen,  if 
petroleum  was  formed  of  marine  animals,  and  why  are  most  of  the 
petroleum-hydrocarbons  free  from  nitrogen  combinations? 

Analysis  of  some  natural  gas  from  a  well  in  Pennsylvania  shows  the 
presence  of  nitrogen  in  natural  gas,  which  in  one  instance  amounted  to 
23%  by  volume. 

In  1892,  I  began  an  investigation  on  the  hydrocarbon  series  consti- 
tuting the  Ventura  County  crude  oils,  which  I  found  to  contain 
invariably  from  0,75%  to  3.5%  of  nitrogen.  The  experiments  were 
conducted  in  such  a  manner  as  to  ascertain  in  what  form  or  combination 
the  nitrogen  existed  in  the  crude  petroleum,  with  the  view  of  isolating 
the  nitrogenous  hydrocarbons. 

The  result  was  the  identification  of  a  number  of  organic  bases  of  the 
Pyridin  and  Chinolin  series,  which  heretofore  were  only  found  in  the 
so-called  animal  tar  from  the  distillation  of  animal  cadavers  or  bones. 

The  presence  of  these  organic  bases  in  the  California  petroleum  indi- 
cates, therefore,  clearly  the  origin  of  this  petroleum  from  animal  matter 
furnished  by  the  slow  decay  of  a  marine  fauna,  which  became  extinct 
by  changes  of  the  sea-water  through  local  influx  of  saline  mother 
liquors.* 

ELEMENTARY   ANALYSIS. 

The  sample  of  crude  petroleum  represented  an  average  mixture  of 
Ventura  County  crude  oils  of  23.5°  B.,  or  0.9120  specific  gravity. 

Carbon 84.0% 

Hydrogen.- 12.7 

Nitrogen - 1.7 

Oxygen 1.2 

Sulphur... — 0.4 

100.0% 

♦Theory  advanced  by  Oechoener,  Engler,  Zalociecke.  More  detailed  reference  will  be 
found  in  a  paper  on  the  origin  of  petroleum,  read  by  writer,  April,  1894,  before  the  Tech- 
nical Society  of  the  Pacitic  Coast. 


74  CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 

CHEMICAL    CONSTITUTION    AND    HYDUOCARIiON     SKRIES    OF    VENTURA    AND 
LOS    ANGELES    COUNTIES   CRUDE    OILS. 

These  crude  oils,  which  all  carry  asphalt,  held  in  combination  with  the 
high  boiling  members  of  the  hydrocarbon  series,  are  of  a  very  complex 
constitution,  which  makes  their  refining  exceedingly  difficult.  By  a 
series  of  chemical  reactions  and  fractional  distillations,  I  have  succeeded 
in  isolating  various  hydrocarbons,  which  define  clearly  the  presence  of 
the  following  hydrocarbon  series: 

(a)  Hydrocarbons  of  the  Paraffin,  or  fatty,  series.     CJl2n+2' 

(h)  Hydrides  or  hydron  addition-products  of  the  Benzole  series. 
CsHia  and  homologous  h3^drocarbons. 

(c)  Pyridin  and  Chinolin  series.     CnH2n_oN  and  CuI-Lo_iN. 

{d)  Isomeres  of  the  Terpene  series.     CnHi„_4. 

(fl)  Hydrocarbons  of  the  Paraffin  series,  C„H2n+2.  These  were  sepa- 
rated by  successive  treatment  of  crude  oil  and  its  fractions  with  fuming 
sulphuric  acid  containing  20%  sulphuric  anhydride  in  solution,  nitric 
acid  43°  B.,  chromic  acid,  potassium-hydrate,  followed  by  fractional  dis- 
tillations. Owing  to  the  great  difficulty  of  isolating  the  high  boiling 
members,  whose  boiling-points  are  very  close  together,  I  examined  the 
fraction  boiling  between  80°  and  100°  C,  and  isolated  and  identified  in 
the  same  Heptane,  C^U^  of  97°  C.  boiling-point.  By  chlorination  and 
subsequent  decomposition  of  the  chlorides,  Heptylic  alcohol  was  formed. 
Crystallizable  paraffin  could  not  be  detected  in  any  of  the  heavy  frac- 
tions. At  20°  C.  a  slight  cloudiness  appeared  in  the  oils,  caused  by  tlie 
presence  of  traces  of  colloidal  paraffin,  such  as  constitutes  th^  liquid 
paraffins  in  Eastern  oils. 

(&)  Hydrides  of  the  aromatic  or  Benzole  series,  CuH:,n_fi.  These  hydro- 
carbons could  only  be  separated  and  identified  from  the  residue  obtained 
by  the  treatment  of  the  original  oil  with  fuming  sulphuric  acid,  and 
were  in  form  of  sulpho-conjugated  derivatives  of  the  lienzole  series, 
yielding,  when  melted  with  caustic  potassa,  Phenol  and  its  homologous 
oxy-products,  which  I  have  under  further  investigation. 

The  great  facility  with  which  California  oils  produce,  by  pyrogenic 
action.  Benzole  and  its  homologues,  which  process  the  writer  has 
especially  studied,  further  illustrates  the  presence  of  hydrides  of  the 
aromatic  series. 

(c)  Pyridin  and  Chinolin  series,  CnH,„_5  and  C„H2n-nN.  I  obtained 
and  isolated  this  group  of  basic  hydrocarbons  by  extraction  of  the  Cali- 
fornia crude  oil  and  its  fractions  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid,  1:5,  at  212° 
F.  The  acid  solution  containing  the  organic  bases  in  the  form  of  sul- 
phates was  then  steamed  until  no  more  volatile  oils,  mainly  Pyrrol, 
passed  over  with  the  aqueous  vapors.  The  bases  were  then  precipitated 
by  potassium  hydrate  in  form  of  yellowish-gray  fiocks,  which,  by  pro- 
longed heating  on  the  waterbath,  formed  a  supernatant  oil  of  a  reddish- 
brown  color  and  of  the  characteristic  penetrating  odor  of  the  Pyridin 
bases.  The  crude  basic  oils  showed  a  specific  gravity  of  0.0985.  By 
moderate  oxidation  with  permanganate  of  potassium  the  basic  hydrides 
were  first  converted  into  normal  bases,  while  at  the  same  time  the 
formation  of  small  quantities  of  "^  Pyridin-monocarlionic  acid  was 
observed   derived   from   partial   oxidation  of  the  homologous  bases  of 


ORIGINAL    RESEARCHES,    ANALYSES,    ETC.,    OF    PETROLEUM.  75 

Pyridin.     The  resulting  bases  were  then  driftd  over  potassium  hydrate 
and  submitted  to  fractional  distillations  in  the  following  fractions: 

From  115°  to  121°  C,  specific  gravity  =  C.9580 

"  132°  "  138°  C,  "  "  =  0.9610 

"  137°  "  170°  C,  "  "  =  0.9735 

"  169°  "  180°  C,  "  "  =  0.9890 

"  179°  "  200°  C,  "  "  =  1.0500 

"  199°  "  250°  C,  "  "  =  1.0860 

"  249°  "  320°  C,  "  "  =  1.1200 

From  fraction  115°  to  121°  C.  pure  Pyridin  was  isolated,  by  forming 
the  insoluble  Ferro-cyanide  and  the  Platino-chloride  combination.  It 
distilled  at  the  constant  temperature  of  116'^  C. 

The  next  homologous  base,  the  a  Picolin  or  «  Methyl-pyridin,  was 
isolated  from  fraction  132°  to  138°  by  converting  the  same  into  the 
Picolin-ferrocyanide  combination,  which  is  easily  soluble  in  water,  and 
which  by  double  decomposition  with  alkali  yielded  <>■  I'icolin  of  140° 
boiling-point. 

The  Pyridin  and  «  Picolin  showed  all  the  characteristics  of  these 
bases  made  from  animal  tar.  The  higher  homologous  bases,  such  as 
Lutidin,  Collidin,  etc.,  have  not  yet  been  isolated  by  me  except  that 
their  presence  is  indicated  by  the  uniform  rise  in  the  boiling-points  of 
fractions.  In  continuing  the  distillation  above  300°  C.  considerable 
ammonia-gas  is  generated,  which  is  formed  by  the  action  of  the  high 
temperature  on  the  heavier  basic  products.  All  fractions  above  200°  C. 
possess  a  remarkable,  fine  crimson  liuoresence.  By  carrying  the  dis- 
tillation to  360°  C,  a  glossy,  hard,  asphalt-like  substance  remains  in  the 
still;  diluted  sulphuric  acid,  1:5,  dissolves  the  same  to  the  greatest  part 
and  alkalies  precipitate  from  the  filtered  solution  a  crystalline  powder 
which  probably  contains  a  number  of  unknown  solid  nitrogenous 
hydrocarbons  of  the  Pyridin  or  Chinolin  series,  parallel  with  Anthra- 
cene, Phenanthrene,  Chrysene,  etc.,  from  coal  tar. 

The  presence  of  Chinolin  and  its  homologues  was  demonstrated  by 
the  Cyanin  reaction,  a  blue  color,  which  is  formed  from  the  lodin  deriva- 
tives of  Chinolin  and  its  homologues. 

The  occurrence  of  Pyridin  and  Chinolin  bases  in  California  crude  oils 
opens  up  a  new  resource  for  these  products,  which  are  largely  used  for 
the  synthetical  production  of  alkaloids,  dyes,  etc.,  and  in  a  large  measure 
for  'denaturalizing'  alcohol  in  Europe. 

(d)  Isomeric  Hydrocarbons  of  the  Terpens  series,  CnHan.,.  These 
hydrocarbons  enter  easily  into  polymerization  and  thus  form  the  great- 
est part  of  the  asphaltic  constituents  usually  termed  Petrolene  and 
Asphaltene,  which  terms  I  use  instead  of  Retinoid  and  Retene;  the 
former  being  a  series  of  polymerized  hydrocarbons,  the  latter  their 
oxidation  product. 

The  investigation  on  these  hydrocarbons  is  not  far  enough  advanced 
for  publication. 

{e)  Sulphureted  Hydrocarbons.  These  of  the  California  crude  oils 
differ  in  their  chemical  constitution  from  the  sulphureted  Trenton  lime 
oils  of  Ohio  or  Canada,  mainly  in  that  the  sulphur  is  for  the  greatest 
part  only  confined  by  chemical  substitution  to  the  highest  boiling  con- 
stituents, the  asphalt,  and  is  practicall}^  transferred  by  chemical  action 
to  the  middle  fractions  during  distillation  in  the  form  of  sulphur-addition 
products,  another  part  escaping  in  the  form  of  sulphureted  hydrogen. 


76  CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 

Distillation  over  soda  lime  or  passing  the  vapors  over  the  same  com- 
pletely eliminates  the  sulphur  from  the  hydrocarbons;  this  is  not  the 
case  with  Ohio  or  Canada  oils. 

PRArTICAL    DISTILLATIONS   AND    YIELDS    OF    VARIOUS    SOUTHERN    CALIFORNIA 

CRUDE  OILS. 

1.  Sespe  Oil,  of  25.2°  B.  or  0.9022  specific  gravity  at  60°  F. 

Kaplitha,60°  Ji.  at  150°  C 7.30% 

Illuminating  distillate,  42°  B.  at  330°  C 19.50 

Gas  distillate.  28°  B.-above  360°  C 25.00 

Lubricating  distillate,  24°  B.-above  360°  C 35.80 

♦Asphaltand  Loss 12.40 

100.00% 

The  ryridin  bases  equal  2..30%. 

2.  Crude  Oil  from  Four  Forks,  of  24°  B.  or  0.9090  specific  gravity. 

Naphtha 6.00% 

Ilhiininatin»?  distillate --.  17.10 

Gas  distillate 29.50 

Lubricating  distillate 34.40 

Asphaltand  Loss 13.00 

100.00% 

The  Pyridin  bases  equal  1.75%. 

3.  Crude  Oil  from  Torrey  Canon,  of  27°  B.  or  0.8917  specific  gravity. 

Naphtha 9.20% 

Illuminating  distillate 21.50 

Gas  distillate 26.00 

Lubricating  distillate 30.30 

Asphalt  and  Loss - 13.00 

100.00% 

The  Pyridin  bases  equal  1.52%, 

4.  Crude  Oil  from  Lime  Kiln  CaFwn  (Eureka  Oil  Co.),  of  29°  B.  or 

0.8805  specific  gravity. 

Naphtha -  14.10% 

Illuminating  distillate 26.40 

Gas  distillate 24.00 

Lubricating  distillate -.. 27.00 

Asphalt  and  Loss 8.50 

100.00% 

The  Pyridin  bases  equal  1.44%. 

5.  Crude  Oil  from  Adams^  Canon  (Tunnel  Oil),  greenish  oil  of  24°  B. 
or  0.9090  specific  gravity. 

Naphtha --    5.20% 

Illuminating  distillate - ...- 24.50 

Gas  distillate - 17.30 

Lubricating  distillate .-. - 46.00 

Asphalt  and  Loss - 7.00 

100.00% 

The  Pyridin  bases  equal  0.88%. 

6.  Crude  Oil  from  Los  Angeles   Wells,  of  14.2°  B.  or  0.9708  specific 

gravity. 

Naphtha  - Traces.^ 

Illuminating  distillate - 6.00% 

Gas  distillate 17.50 

Lubricating  distillate • 51.50 

Asphalt  and  Loss 25.00 

100.00% 

The  Pyridin  bases  equal  3.2%. 

This  crude  oil  contains  usually  from  2.5%  to  7%  of  water  and  0.16%  to 
2%  of  suspended  mineral  matter,  mainly  a  fine  silicious  clay. 

*rhe  gravities  of  the  products.  Naphtha,  etc.,  are  the  same  in  all  the  following  analysts 
of  crude  oils,  as  in  No.  1,  Sespe  oil. 


ORIGINAL    RESEARCHES,    ANALYSES,    ETC.,   OF    PETROLEUM. 


77 


7.  Fresno  County  Crude  Oil,  from  Coalinga,  of  54°  B.  or  0.7608  spe- 
cific gravity. 

This  oil  represents  a  distillate  made  by  nature,  nearly  all  fractions 


Lving  a  very  low  fir 

e  test. 

Fraction 

1. 

10%,  at  temperature  from 

49°  to  111°  C. 

t( 

2. 

10%,  " 

110°   ' 

'    121°  C. 

'» 

3. 

10%,   " 

120°   ' 

'    141°  C. 

(( 

4. 

10%,   "              "                 " 
10%,  " 
10%,  " 

140°   ' 

'    161°  C. 

(( 

5. 

160°   ' 

'    176°  C. 

u 

6. 

175°   ' 

'    196°  C. 

11 

7. 

10%    " 

195°   ' 

'    227°  C. 

11 

8. 

io|  " 

10%,   " 

226°    ' 

'    249°  C. 

(( 

9. 

248°    ' 

'   275°  C. 

li 

10. 

10%,  Residue  is  hard  asphalt. 

REFINING. 

From  the  investigations  given  so  far  it  is  evident  that  the  refining  of 
the  crude  California  oils  is  not  an  easy  task  and  that  they  require  refin- 
ing methods  different  from  those  practiced  with  Eastern  or  Russian  oils. 

The  complicated  nature  of  this  class  of  asphaltic  crude  oils  necessitates 
complete  elimination  of  all  unstable  hydrocarbons  by  inexpensive  prac- 
tical processes.  Another  great  difference  exists  between  the  specific 
gravities  of  Eastern  oil  distillates  and  those  of  California  oils.  Viscosity 
of  distillate  or  reduced  stock  being  equal,  the  gravities  are  from  5°  to  6° 
B.  lower  in  California  oil  fractions  than  in  those  of  Eastern  oils.  Flash 
and  fire  tests  are  from  10°  to  30°  F.  lower  in  California  oil  distillates 
than  in  Eastern  distillates  of  the  same  gravity. 


78 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


The  following  is  a  diagram  of  products  available  from  California  crude 
oil  by  refining,  showing  where  redistillation  is  required: 

Asphalt    .     .    . >.  Asphalt,  different  grades 

of  hardness  or  liquid 
asphalt. 

Reduced  stock,  valve  oil, 
^etc,  14°  to  16°  B. 


Crude 
Oil.    ' 


Lubricating 

Distillate. 


28°  Gas 

Distillate."* 


42°  Distillate  ..g 


Crude  Naphtha, 
58°-60°  B. 


Heavy  lubricating  oil, 
engine  oil,  21°  B. 

Neutral  oil,  23°  B. 

Light  lubricating  oil, 
spindle  oils,  26°  B. 


Gas  distillate,  28°  B. 

:irRef=idue. 

Mineral  sperm,  38°  B. 

Illuminating  kerosene, 
45°  B. 

Residue,  50°  B. 

Benzin,  63°  B. 

Gasoline,  76°  B. 


The  average  yield  of  products  from  100  bbls.  of  Ventura  County 
mixed  crude  oil  of  24°  B.,  determined  by  actual  running  on  a  large 
scale,  is  as  follows: 

Gasoline,  76°  B 3  bbls. 

Benzin,  63°  B 4  " 

Kerosene,  45°  B 15  " 

Heavy  kerosene,  38°  to  40°  B 8  " 

Gas  distillate,  28°  B.    21  " 

Light  lubricating  (spindle)  oil,  26°  B 10  " 

Neutral  oil,  23°  B 12  " 

Heavy  neutral  oil,  21°  B 6  " 

Reduced  stock,  lubricating  oil,  14°  B 5  " 

Asphalt,  crude - - 11  '" 

Loss 5  " 

The  extraction  of  Pyridin  bases  with  dilute  sulphuric  acid  should  be 
done  before  the  redistillation  of  the  distillates,  as  tlie  treatment  of  those 
distillates  with  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  will  otherwise  form  certain 
sulpho-conjugated  products  which,  during  the  washing  process  with 
water  and  alkali,  decompose  and  re-enter  into  solution  again  with  the 
refined  products. 

The  special  refining  methods  will  be  discussed  in  the  next  paper,  as 
certain  processes  are  not  yet  covered  by  letters-patent. 


LIST  OF  FOSSILS. 


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CALIFORNIA   STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


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West  Los  An- 
geles   

y.  \ 

yy 

y  [ 

Well  on  Green- 
Meadow  Ranch 

y 

yy 

y 

Los  Angeles  Oil- 
Weils 

\><X 

y 

y  '. 

yy 

Miocene,  Pliocene,  and  Quaternary  Fossils. 

1. 
e 

s 

u 

e 
s 

'►5 

c 
c 

>- ^ 

e 

"5 

s 

■  "a 

'o  2 
a  "3 

Is 

c 
o 
u 
e 

1 

0 
03 

u 
e 

v 

c 

e 
1 

c 
o 

e 

C 

S 

•** 

1 

•S 
e 

5: 

C 

o 

CO 

.£ 
'5 

■s. 

s 

•*- 
•^ 

0 

c 

c 

c 

c 

-  •> 

c 

o 

g 

OS 
> 

e 

C 

e 

u 

•<* 

e 

03 

-a 

or 

s 

e 

1 

3 
a 

B 
u 

V 

-4-1 

e 

< 

•*- 

<- 

v. 
1 

> 
/- 

<u 
c 

X 

■> 

•a 

B 
1 

a 

o 

B 

Q 

"B 

c 

c 
u 
oj 
C 

e 

^*) 
)>. 
C 

c; 
c 

I- 

Of 

3 
:j 
e 

V. 
V 

e 

c5 

'm 

Cj 
tl 

<5 

B 

•  • 

e 
1 

N 

'3 
m 

sJ 
ti 

B 

"^ 

V. 

1 

a 
o 

S 
-a 

5.. 
OJ 

_B 

_0J 

.  !- 

15 

OC 

s 

B 

S 

S 

cd 

u 

"5 
C 

•<- 

or 

c 

B 
s  w 

s 
»-1 

n 

B 

.3 

s 

u 
6 

1 

( 
1 

C 

■^^ 

i 

5 

c 

O 

or 
« 

B 

V. 

.B 

's 

B 

c 
o 

"b 

o 
1 

LIST  OP  FOSSILS. 


81 


r-<T^*  O  d 


■  e^  1.^  1..^     '  _  1  .  -  w-( 


o 


Ih:;^^ 


;j>j 


t^ 


;>^ 


;x^ 


:x 


\y. 


y,  \y 


;x!x 


;^ 


a 
o 


o 
o 


u 
O 

III 


OCl 

l-q 

l-H 
03 
02 

O 
IN 

IN 

o 

EH 
02 


c 

o 

13 
33 

o 
o 


CO 


Eh 

y, 
1=) 
o 
o 

<^ 
c^ 

> 


•so 


'^^ 


CQt 


taO 

a 

as 

•3 

1 

O 

-4- 

c: 

1    0 

L.Quat.Pl. 

Mioc. 

L.  Oiiat  PI 

.L.Quat.PJ.Mioc. 

L.Quat.Pl. 

L.Quat.Pl. 

L.Quat.Pl. 

---  Mioc. 

Mioc. 

01 

1 

5 

o 

Divide  between  Ken- 
tuck  and  Brownstone 
oil-wells 

-a   1 

CO       , 

II 

O  cj 

Santa   Paula  Creek,  be- 
tween    Mupu     School- 
House  and  Sulphur  Mts. 

yy.\       ;  X  ; 

yy  \ 

Goat      Mountain,     near 
Mouth  of  Adams  Canon. 

;     y 

y 

Aliso  Canon 

>< 

East  Forkof  Corey  Canon. 

\y 

Divide  between  Tar  Creek 
and  Stony  Corral  Creek. 

y 

[  Tar  Creek,  Dark-Colored 
Shales  and  Hard,  Cal- 
careous Strata 

y       : 

y 

no 

1 

& 

OS 

a 

u 

1 

§ 

a 

1-1 

s 

» 

a 

B 

l-H 

CO 

CO 

•»> 
<j 

03 

e 
e 

c 
o 

•^ 
•«* 

a 
e 
-e 

2 

CO 

T3 
O 

..A 

e 

c 
o 

CO 

5 
1 

J 

aj 

O 

<** 

c 

g 

d 

83 

o 

30 

g 
s 

'  o 

;.| 

.  e 
a  s 
°  S 

> 

Si 

& 

o 

<n 

s 

S 

S 

.a 

_a 
■3 

1 

53 

s 

x> 

«3 

CD 

eo 

a, 
« 
s 

82 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU. 


13 
« 

3 
C 

a 
o 
a 

I 

H 

t? 
o 
o 

< 


be 

a 

« 

o 

o 
a> 

O 


as 
O 

w 


Santa  Paula  Creek,  be- 
tween Mupu  School- 
House  and  Sulphur  M  ts. 


Goat     Mountain,     near 
Mouth  of  Adams  Canon. 


Aliso  Canon . 


East  Fork  of  Corey  Canon . 


Divide  betweenTar  Creek 
and  Stony  Corral  Creek. 


Tar  Creek,  Dark-Colored 
Shales  and  Hard,  Cal- 
careous Strata  


o 

>> 

^> 

a 


OS 

a 
& 

•a 

a 

ol 

a 

0) 

u 

o 


a 

o 
o 


—     .  o 

•-^   -M  '^ 

1  ^>>— . 


k1 


u  u 

2.2 


ca  o 

O     O 


h-J^ 


o3 

CO 


73   g 
O  03 


x;^,^    X 


X 


y.y. 


O   O  O  O  — -"   OT* 

00005h&h05h 


<,~,^.^.%'^'P.-^P, 


3  eS  el 
3  3  3 


CCO" 


X 


x>< 


M 


X 


X 


x: 


y. 


o  3  2 

H    ri    K 


c  s  =  e 


S  e 

«  2 


^CuCm 


e:8; 
w — +^  •*->  .^ 

eJ*^  05  eS  08 
3_;  3  3  5 


X 


X 


x>^ 


=  :=-:  5  o 


y.y,  \y 


Pui 

03 

3 


>< 


y. 


X! 


XI 


c 


e 


3  3  :f «  ^ 

ts-2-s  s 


OOOOC 


'^  1-  o 

S   c  o 

g  fcCj  •<  "*^    *^  *.> 

V  o  u  e-c^'fcj^ 


«  s  e 


^  i-s"  b 


f^  ^^  ^  -J  p*  *r* 


~,t.  O   '- 


g  c  r  c  >-  ■~ 


^     ^     M 

^  ^*  *^-^ 

"  o  S  « 

=  §.5^  .-5 


c 
o 

o 

e 
s 
e 
•«* 
s 


.0.2 


.^    ..* 


'>5»~5h^«=;«^"i5«=;'^-s; 


C  ^ 

a 

e  > 


LIST  OF  FOSSILS. 


83 


Ch  o; 
.  o 

3 


o 


X 


o 
o 


c3 

3 


Ch  ^      S^ 

a  3 

©>  C 

r4  1-5 


S  >> 

83 

CO  • 

e3  2  CO  ;3 


S  »  -- .-  - 


=  s  fc:=:  c 


3^ 


f-TZ 


c  c  c  ^ 

e3  O       « 


O  X^  i-H  r— 4 -^  >— t  »-H 
•--'  — ^ 

"^  o  e3  ol  c3  cj  oj 
_;  O  3  3  3  3  3 

w^   _-   w    -^  w   _- 


;^ 


o  or-'  cj     .      rr  <J 
O  OP^  O'T'       Pi  O 


.     .  S' 

pi!S5 

3  3 


X 


03        3 


'O  O 
<U  I- 


071  o  o 

oSh  o  o 


:^M 


C3 

3 


4J   ^ 


c 

3 
-4^ 

eS 

^ 

0 

0) 

■& 

3} 

2 

est 

t— t 

i^ 

^ 

K-' 

:xx 


X 


X><JX!X 


^X! 


xy. 


y. 


yy 


y 


\y 


yy 


y 


y 


y 


y 


y 


y 


y 


yy 


y 


y 


m 
O 


o 


>1 


e 


S  «  e 


o 


e  e 


S-«3  ■, 
-----    ^    « 

^  ^  c^  (CJ  "^ 


■s         e 


On 
83 

o 


V 
o 


C 
O 

o 

e 
s 

e 

o 


e 


S 


&1 

V 


a, 

05    O 


o    o 


=  ?  I 
^-  2^  S 

e  ;i  ;s  § 

*5    to    ^  •< 

00,0,0, 


13  C3 

|o^  3 

.  £  3S 

D4  to  o*^ 

^  -  «  S 

<^     -*  r^     w 

.0    =>  S    ~ 

e  2  '^tS 


O 
e 

e  o 


« 3. 

to   ^ 


S.2 

o  = 

»!     S 

•  s  c 

Ci  ^"^ 
tn  «  ^ 

-  ?  e 

—  i-  « 


Si 

SI 

o 


CQCQ 


S  J   S 


**    S*    3?    <* 

"*  to  to  *■» 


g   2   O 


*  fe  :: 


cS  ^  3 

~  S>  N  g 

V   S  V. 

e  e  S 

«   w  « 


C  S 


tc  = 


84 


CALIFORNIA    STATE   MINING    BUREAU. 


Listof  Fossils— Cre- 
taceous Groups  to 
which  these  Fos- 
sils have  Hereto- 
fore    been      Re- 
ferred. 

c 
'a 

E- 

1 

c 
'a 

E- 

^ 

H 

■fc 

c 
c 

E- 

c 
c 

"a 

c 
c 

c 

•y 

3  5 

c 

■Vr- 

a 

5 
o 

_c 
E- 

a 
E- 

a 

en 

ca 
M 

Eh 

O 

!c 

c 
c 

C 
0 

C 
0 

E^ 

0 

Eh 

S 

c 

Eh 

c"  C 
o  o 

EhH 

• 

03 

■Si? 

«5 

OS  O 

.1 

c 
o 

OS  O 

a> 

d 

o 

1 

o 

o 
o 

• 

El 

O 
O 

<^ 
H 
> 

S 
3 

35 

> 

a  . 

to  *-» 

P 

l-i 

-a 

■*-» 

o 

to 

Si 

C  aj 

vi 

-a  ►J 

P3 

< 

go 

■-5  o 

a3  eS  aJ 

2n3s 
°  S  c 

< 

e3 

C 
e] 

o 

CO 

«S 
d) 

^  3 
-mC-h 

5 

a 
a 

cc 

o 

-4.3 

CO 
Oj 

<o 

c3 

■^^ 

MS 

:-^ 

O"" 

c 

-  s 
cS 

:  en  C 
C 

esc; 
o 

5 

c 

OS 
OJ 

o 

•4J 

n 
OS 
a> 

St 

>> 

station      I),      Hard 
Sandstones,  Silver- 
thread  Oil  District. 

y, 

• 

1 

13 

ed 

•;3 

Clay     Beds,     Santa 
Paula   Greek,    Sil- 
verthread  Oil  Dis- 
trict..  

><; 

y.xx 

y 

i^.x 

X, 

X 

Mouth  of  Stony  Cor- 
ral Creek  .      .  .  -. 

X    X 

>< 

i-l 
CQ 

Mt.    San    Cayetana, 
above  Pine  Creek.. 

X 

X 

y 

CQ 

O 

P4 

Tar  Creek,  Dark-Col- 
ored    Shales    and 
Hard,    Calcareous 
Strata 

y 

1^ 

X 

o 

Eh 

Divide  between  Tar 
Creek  and    Maple 
Creek 

02 

li 

il 

§<S 

9,2 

n 

c 

tn 

C 

g 

C 

<3 

u 
C 

C 

B 

-a 

^ 

2 

od 

c 

t.. 

a 

C 
o 

•,* 

g 
S 

a 

c 

C 
C 

g 
6 

D 
C 

o 

ca 
C 
e 

•S 

c 
c 

•a 

a 

Si 

C 

s 
o 

o 
u 

fi 

S 

"5 
s 

CO 

« 
c 

e 

C 
C 

c 

e 
1 

c 
1 

1 

o 

e 

e 

"a 

c 

si 

c 
•s 

G 
>. 

.a 

e 
•.* 

u 

S 

c 
o 
o 
e 

e 

«£ 

e 

i. 

J3 

o 
1 

c 
o 

e 
S 

B 

s 

o 

•** 

C 

— 

s 

i 

03 

o 

e 

1- 

u 

B 

LIST  OF  FOSSILS. 


85 


fl  o  C 

c 

n 

c  c 

C 

c 

c 

c  d  C  E  s  c  c 

c  rt 

a 

c  c 

G  G  a" 

o  "  o 

o 

o 

o  o 

o 

o 

o 

o  o  o  o  o  o  o 

o  o 

o 

o  o 

o  o  o 

•  ^-»"-» 

5" 

V 

a>  <v 

(U 

0) 

Ol 

4)   ^   QJ   fl)   Q>   4J   O 

n/  a> 

OJ 

0)   0) 

H^H 

H 

H 

HH 

H 

H 

H 

nHH^J-HH 

h-ib^ 

H 

HH 

HHH 

CO     '    ^         ■    ^^ 

O    -  a>  J3  a 
Si;  >:?a:  75 

§   O   O   O  J 
CO 


o 

o 

u 


o 


a 

o 

o 

•v. 

O 

>^ 

•S 

H 

c 

Z 

^ 

& 

t. 

O 

« 

U 

^ 

r*l 

W 

•w 

ij 

r 

H 

V 

o 

^ 

^; 

-< 

r« 

O 

£1 

^ 

W 

O 

2; 

e 

<j 

CO 

tf 

V> 

<J 

B 

C5 

H 

55 

•»o 

■a 

M 

o 

-ij 

o 

^ 

55 

, 

O 

c3 

<< 

O 

C) 

■.^ 

c 

r« 

t~ 

;■> 

?- 

-c 

-?! 

e 

W 

3 

o 

:?! 

o 

O 

« 

t>^ 

«? 

£) 

X> 

i-fi 

a 

o 

o 

fc< 

•2 

W 

c 

o 

o 

(■ 

w 

jS 

2  e3  (H  to  4)-!^ 
-*-»  -^  c/3  w  "^  ^ 

a 


"^  c3  O  >H 

o       G 

3        cS  « 

-*^  ^  t,  (« ^ 

C  &•!)  03  1) 

4j  m  -*_!  ^  Q> 

^J'G  "1  a*  03 

:2  <s-<  Ga2 


83     '  03     , 
01^    01—1 

^  <u^  G 


?o 


«-,  G 


O^  O  G 

3-=^  G  ° 
O*— '  O  <» 

-G  GJ2  G 

M  O  "^  O 

IG       IG 

>>c3  >.o3 

03O  <^0 

5    u 


o 

O  03 

ja  G  0) 
O 


(H  03 

O       oj 

c3  a 

J3  3  o 

O"^  G 
G  03  O 
C  +->  o 

G  - 
oT  tS  G  iG 
-jCC--"  c3 
03  _  rj 
j3  G  ^- 
CO  oiJ  O 

ojo  5<i 


G 

O 


c3-i4 
G  ^ 

03 
03 


X 


X 


X 


x><x 


X 


y.   y. 


>>< 


xyy 


y 


yy 


X 


X 


X 


X 


x 


x 


y. 


X 


y 


y 


y 


03  • 

.2  c3  o3  c3 

gOOO 
fees 

goes 

C   ?3  '■<'  •«■» 
"o    ^   O   «^ 

«  o  w  s. 


CO 


Xi 
03 
O 


H) 


0,1 


■GO?: 
>  2  «a 


A 

o 

o 

O 

s 

CJ 

S 

e 

•^^ 

Cr, 

S 

s 

s 

a^ 

1^ 

<X! 

x^-9.  s 


x> 


to 

!> 


Xi 

a 

O 


■S  t  e  o 


&2 


v. 


G 
o 


m 

> 

03 

>C5 


o    ^    ir 

s,  s'  e  e  e  e  e 

u     ^     ^     >d     ^     P« 
^  ,  ^  -^  "-^  ^  --i  »•»*> 

02  Co  tM  e>.  t-1  tx  E-H 


Si.-" 

O 

«  2 

^e 

•s  s 

5s 

r-<> 

K  li 

e  s 

^ 

B  B 

S-*J 

e  o 

^ 

<-•« 

•BT3 

^  ^ 

E^ 

(5^ 

86 


CALIFORNIA    STATK    MINING    BUREAU. 


d 

•pH 

a 
o 
o 

I 

a> 

o 
o 
O 


a> 

a 
t3 


oa 

02 

o 

Em 

O 

H 
02 


> 
OS 

a 
-♦^ 
e 
« 

C3 
>» 

o 

ej 
ii 
d 
-ij 

c 


o 
o 

to 

H 


a- 


P3 

O 

O 


H 

t) 
o 
o 

< 
Pi 

< 

H 
la 

CO 


0) 
W) 

a 

OS 

a: 
"3 

o 
^^ 
o 
u 


Oil-well, 
Ranch. 


Higgins' 


Water-well,     Higgins' 
Ranch  


Soft  Sandstone,  Near 
Rincon  Asphallum 
Mine 


Soft  Sandstone  Over- 
lying Bleached  Shale, 
NearMouth  of  Rincon 
Creek 


03 

u 

3 

C 

> 

C 
o 


c 

03 


O 

CO 


X, 


y, 


y 


X 


H-3J 


xxy.y.y. 


3_;^' 


3  S 


^/^ 


^ 


=3"^  03  eS 
3— •  3  S 


3 


><>< 


2 

c3 

3 
S 

> 

C 
o 

n 

-a 

<-" 

3 

09 


xxxxxxx 


O 
03 

a 

a> 

■•-• 

03 

3 

c? 

n 

03 

<S 

c 

0) 

u 

o 


a 
a> 
u 
o 


2<i:s 


K>  k>  k>  i>  k>  k>  k>l  »>  k^ 


'3  :: 


=sS 


B  S 

«-2 


5  e 


-^  5  >,c3  3  ac 
e  B.«  S  S  S  e 

w  o  :£  ~  2  '^  •(* 
?5  >  ~  •'*  ■- "a  ■« 


X 


5  «>•: 


■*  2  X  « 
2:   "»   o  c 


>.«*.<; 


oc 


■C  -3  '^'  ^, 

•^  .^    ^    B 

►-«—  "«    W 

C:  c  S  c 
S  *-  5  ^ 

S"^""  B 
«  t  2  C 

s:  «  «  =^ 
.-"^  >  ►""  >• 


XXXX 


2 

o 

C 


oa  t 


-3    ^• 
>.   B 


X 


XX 


X 


.«-3~  X 

•2  S  -.2 

■  »^    CI    ?  "^^ 


c 
c  — 


B 

b"^ 


>> 

<u 

E: 
o 

;=y  ^-^ 

r-     -^   >.  CO 

-  TJ  —  o 

:_■  c  3"^ 

•S'Z^B 


^   V-    &: 
<u"^   S'  B 

-*•  'pi  ^o    B 

c;  B  «  B 


-BBS 

"^  B  B  B 
B-^  g  g 
.S  B   S  S 

g  e  «j  o 


LIST  OF  FOSSILS. 


87 


—  a     .•'"  S     .     .     .     .3     .—  3     .3     . 
«■    ^3-;    ^  3  3  3  3_j  3 


3 


3 


Si 
«ro3 

O  &. 

a  a 

ej  o 

<4-l     <U 

02^ 


3    ■;  3 


O  as  zi  o^  O  oOh  O 


S '-''-'  e^  3*2 


o3 

3 


3 


*~^ 

V 

a 
o 

01 

fi 
oj 
m 

(4-1 

o 


3-; 

3 

c 


3 

c  g  c 

aTo,  oT 
C^^  G 
O-^  O 
-tj    '^-^ 

Vi    O    'Ji 

^3  3'T3 

q  o  c 
fe-  °> 


>< 


M' 


^ 


>^ 


X 


^ 


M 


y. 


XX 


XX 


XX 


XX 


r'n'N  I'i  ri  r  ■(  rS  I'N  ?S  rS  rS  f'^ 


>^. 


C 

o 

o 

IS 


't3       , 


Pi 
O 

o 

e 

8 

e 

o 


3J2 


O. 
f-i   qS 

'       03-5 


go  s  <=  - 
S.2  Sl  ^ 
4-  ^  e  ^  s 


33 

%1 


^^ 


^  1^  -^  ^ 
^  «-S  - 

C   o   to 

CC      !0  •?*     -a 

e  e  s  o 


e  e.2. 

~*  si   - 


^  ^  -J  S 

3;  V   s  c 
so 


e  e  ^ 

**>  -^  •«* 


3 
O  CO 

og 

Co   CQ 

e  . 

v:    O 


O     ■  cS 
•*>  3   S 

•«  S  o 


O 


c3.V 


IH 

C3 

3  S  =S. 
0°0  V 

s  «  ~  p- 
•5  c-..»-§ 
■  ft  s  '/■rs 

S  o  B  i- 


r?  c  -,  ~  'i 


7-M 


3  o  « 

•-a  '^  >• 

H  •«  a 

CQCQCQ 


l-l^-e:s.s 


o   -»    = 


^gS^ 


88  INDEX. 


INDEX. 


Part,  Chapter, 
A  and  Paragraph, 

Adams  Cafion  tunnel 2.2.23 

wells '/_"  2!l!56 

Adams  old  tunnel 2.2.08 

Adams  well _. 1.1.30 

Alameda  and  Santa  Barbara  Development  Co.'s  well .'"  3.1.15 

Alcatraz  asiihalt  refinery 3.1.12 

Alderson's  well.. 1.1.30 

Aliso  Canon  wells 2.1.67 

Alison  &  Barlow  well 1.3.03 

Allen's  patent  pumping  rig 4.2.10 

American  Crude  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Analyses  of  asphalt  from  Punta  Gorda  mine 3.1.0.S 

Angelina  Heignts  well 1.3.03 

Agua  Blanca  Oeek 2.1.21 

Asphalt  mines,  Las  Conchas 3.1.12 

Punta  Gorda. 3.1.08 

Rincon 3.1.09 

Ventura 3.1.02 

Weldon 3.1.01 

Asphalt  refineries,  Alcatraz  3.1.12 

Asphaltum  and  oil  refinery  at  Los  Angeles 4.2.01 

B 

Bach,  Young  &  Cochran  wells 1.1.30 

Backus  t^-  Craven  wells 3.1.16 

Bardsdale  wells 2.3.04 

Bard's  wells,  table  showing  life  of,  etc. 2.1.52 

Bayer  &  Bentz  wells. 1.1.30 

Bayer  it  Last  wells 1.1.30 

Benedict  ranch  well 1.4.01 

Bituminous  sand  at  Las  Conchas  Mine 3.1.12 

near  mouth  of  Rincon  Creek  ... 4.1.11 

Bleached  shales 2.1.42 

Blunt's  well 1.L30 

Boyle  Heights  well.. 1.3.04 

Bosley's  well  ._. 1.1.30 

Brea  Caflon,  Los  Angeles  County  — 1.5.11 

brea  beds  in ..   1.5.12 

Brophy,  Frost  ct  Tabor,  and  Morris  it  Blaisdell  wells 1.1.30 

Brownstone  formation  in  8espe  district 2.1.16 

Brownstone  group  of  wells 2.1.26-27 

Bryant  &  Co.s  wells 1.3.05 

Building-stone  in  Sespe  district 2.1.16 

Burns  well 1.1.30 

C 

California  Oil  Co.'s  well 2.1.30-31 

Calorimetric  tests  in  laboratory  of  State  Mining  Bureau 4.3.08 

by  Professor  Stillman  in  laboratory  of  S.  P.  Co. 4.313 

Carbon  Hill  Oil  and  Coal  Co  'swell 1.1.30 

Chance  well  -. ...*. 1.3.06 

Chandler's  well,  East  Los  Angeles 1.3.07 

Chandler's  old  well  near  Brea  ('afion  1.5.13 

Chandler's  new  well,  Second-Street  Park,  I^os  Angeles 1.1.30 

(,'haracter  of  deposit  at  Rincon  asphaltum  mine 3.1.10 

Character  of  shale  near  Carpinteria 3.1.04 

Cheney's  well ..  1.1.30 

Chicago  ("rude  Oil  Co.'s  well ..-.  11.30 

Clark's  well 1.1.30 

Cold  Water  anticline... 2.1.03 

Cole's  well  at  Los  Angeles 1.1.30 

at  Summerland 3.1.17 

Combination  Oil  Co.'s  well L1.30 

Comparison  of  formation,  Brea  Cafion  and  Los  Angeles 1.5.14 


INDEX.  89 

Part,  Chiipier, 
and  Paragraph. 

Comparison  of  fuel  tests  of  oil 4.3.07 

Cone  wells  -.. .- 3.1.29 

Consolidated  Oil  Co.'s  well _ 1.1.30 

Cooper,  Dr.j  Table  of  fossils  identified  by pp.  79  to  87 

Cost  of  casing 4.2.07 

of  drilling  at  Los  Angeles 1.1.30  and  4.2.05 

of  oil-tunnels 2.2.02 

Cross-section,  Oil  district  northwest  of  Santa  Paula 2.1.39-40 

Crosswell  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1..30 

Cullen's  well . 1.1.30 

D 

Dagget  it  Fletcher's  well •. 1.1.30 

Daily  yield,  Los  Angeles  wells  in  1895 12.03 

Dark-colored  shales  at  Tar  (reek,  Sespe  district 2.1.13-15 

at  northern  slope  of  Sulphur  Mountains 2.1.45 

])arling  Bros.'  wells  at  Summerland 3.1.30 

Davis,  Cook  &  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Davisson,  Mellice  it  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Davis,  Sloan  &  Beer's  well... 1.1.30 

Day's  well 1.1.30 

Decrease  in  yield  of  Los  Angeles  wells  during  1895 1.2.05 

Deductions  from  evidence  obtained .   ..   3.2.02 

Denker's  wells 1.3.08 

Devil's  Gate  Oil  and  Brownstone  Mining  District 2.1.32 

Dewlaney's  wells ..  3.1. is 

Diameter  of  casing  used  at  Los  Angeles 4.2.06 

Diamond  Oil  Co.'s  wells 1.1.30 

Districts  in  Los  Angeles  County  yet  to  be  visited 1.6.01 

Doheny-Connon  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Drilling  machinery  used  at  Los  ilngeles 4.2.01 

Dryden's  well 1.1.30 

Dunkleberger's  well 1.3.09 

E 

Eagen,  May  &  Mernier's  well 1.I.30 

East  Side  Oil  Co.'s  wells. -. 1.1.30 

Ellsworth  &  Griggs 1.1.30 

Embody  it  Stack 1.L30 

Empire  Oil  Co. 1.1.30 

Eocene  rocks  in  Cahuenga  range 1.1.13 

in  Mount  Cayetana .  ..   2.1.34-^35 

in  Santa  Ynez  Mountains. 3.1.07 

in  Sespe  district 2.1.03-^04 

north  of  Silverthread  district.. 2.1.39-40  and  2.1.50-51 

Eureka  Oil  Co.,  Los  Angeles 1.1.30  and  1.3.10 

Ventura  County 2.3.05 

Evidence  of  faults  in  Sisar  Valley. 2!l.45 

in  Silverthread  oil  district. 2!l51 

Evidence  of  primary  deposits  of  petroleum 3.2.13 

F 

Ferguson  &  Canfield  wells. .  1.1.30 

Fissures  in  shale  filled  with  bitumen ". 3.1.05 

Fortuna  wells 2  3.06 

Fossils,  table  of -'"'.'."pp.79  to  87 

Fowler's  well ._ 1.1.30 

Fractional  distillation  of  oil  from  districts  mentioned  in  this  bulletin -..4.4.01-05 

Frendenberg's  well... 1.1.30 

Fudicker's  well 1.3.02 

Fuel  (oil  as),  Coal  compared  to  oil  by  S.  C.  Ry.  Co "...4.3.01^2 

Other  tests  by  S.  C.  Ry.  Co 4.3.03 

Table  showing  results  of  laboratory  experiments  compared  to  prac- 
tical working  4.3.10 

Tests  at  Los  Angeles  court-house 4.,3.04 

Tests  by  Pressed  Brick  and  Terra  Cotta  Co "...  4!3.05 

Tests  by  California  Sewer  Pipe  C"o. 4.3.06 

Tests  by  Los -Vngeles  Electric  R.  R.  Co ...  4!3.03 

Tests  by  Los  Angeles  Steel  and  Iron  Co 4.3.03 

Tests  by  Professor  Stillman  in  Laboratory  of  S.  P.  Co 4.3.13 

Tests,  calorimetric,  in  laboratory  of  California  State  Mining  Bureau.  4.3.08 

Fuel  used  in  Los  Angeles  oil-tield 4.2.11 


90  INDEX. 

Part,  Chapter, 
C,  and  Paragraph. 

Gasson  &  Co.'s  well 1.3.12 

Gas  yielded  bv  wells  at  Los  Angeles 1.2.06  and  1.4.02-07 

at  Puente 1.5.09 

at  Summerland i .  3.1.28 

in  Sespe  district 2.1.29 

northwest  of  Santa  Paula 2.1.60 

Geological  formation  at  Carpinteria 3.1.13 

at  Brea  Canon,  Los  Angeles  County 1.5.11 

at  Ivanhoe 1.109 

at  Los  Angeles  and  vicinity 1.1.02-04  and  1.1.16-17 

at  Mount  Cayetana ' 2.1.34 

at  Puente  Hills 1.5.01-03 

at  Rincon  Creek 3.1.06 

at  Ruhland  wells 1.1.07 

at  Santa  Ynez  Mountains 3.1.07 

at  Santa  Paula  Creek  and  south  of  Mount  Cavetana 2.1.48 

eastof  O'Hara  wells '. 2.1.63 

in  Sespe  district 2.1.03-06,  2.1.12-15,  2.1.21,  and  2.1..32 

in  Silverthread  district 2.1.51 

in  Temescal  Canon 1.1.15 

in  Ventura  River 3.1.02 

on  southwest  slope  of  Mount  Cayetana 2.1.44 

penetrated  by  tunnels  at  Sulphur  Mountains 

2.2.01,  2.2.15.  2.2.19,  2.2.20-21,  and  2.2.26 

Geological  horizon  of  oil-yielding  formations  at  Los  Angeles ..  ..  1.1.03 

of  oil-yielding  formations  at  Puente.. ..-  3.2.04 

of  oil-yielding  formations  at  Summerland  not  determined 3.2.08 

of  oil-yielding  formations  in  southeastern  portion  of  Santa 

Barbara  County 3.2.34 

of  lower  oil-yielding  formation  at  Sespe  district. 3.2.06 

of  oil-fields  described  in  this  bulletin  (table  showing) 3.2.09 

of  rocks  penetrated  by  wells  in  Silverthread  district 3.2.05 

of  rocks  penetrated  by  the  Occidental  oil-wells  and  the  Santa 

Monica  oil-well 3.2.07 

of  upper  oil-yielding  formations  in  the  Sespe  district 3.2.05 

Good's  tunnels 2.2.10-13 

Good  &  Irwin  tunnel .  2.2.10 

Grand  total  yield  of  oil-wells  and  oil-tunnels  in  districts  north  of  Santa  Paula, 

for  1895. 2.2.29 

Grayham's  well .... 2.1.64 

Green's  well _          , 1.130 

Greenwood  &  Barkelow's  well . . -  1.1.30 

Greenwood  Meadow  Ranch  well 1.3.13 

Guiteau's  well _     1.1.30 

H 

Haight,  Webster  it  Co.'s  well. 1.1.30 

Hall's  wells.. 1.1.30 

Harrison's  well 1.1.30 

Hawley,  experiments  by 1.1.23 

Hellman  Ranch  well 1.4.02 

Henderson's  wells... 1.1.30 

Henley  quarry 2.1.16 

Hibbard  &  Co.'s  wells 1.1.30 

Hoag  &  Silent's  wells l,fi.l4 

Hoffman  .*:  Waller's  well 1.1.30 

Home's  well... 1.1.30 

Hunter  tract 1.1.11 

1 

Ivanhoe 1.1.09 


Johnson's  well 1.1.30 

Johnson's  well  ... -  1.3.15 

.lones  (O'Hara)  wells 2.1.61 

Jefferson  tunnel.. 2.2.05 

K 

Keating  Oil  Co.'s  wells 1.1.30 

Kentuck  wells...   ...   2.1.28-29 

Kimball  (Farrellik  Kimball)  tunnels 2.2.04-20 


INDEX.  91 

Part,  Chapter, 
L  and  I'aragrapti. 

La  Brea  Ranch  well 1.3.16 

Laboratory  tests  compared  to  practical  use  of  oil  as  fuel 4.3.09 

Lake  Shore  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Lathrop  wells  .- 1.1.30 

Lawrence  wells 1.1.30 

Lehman  it  Mills  wells .  1.1,30 

Lewis'  wells 1.1.30 

Libby  wells •. 1.1.30 

Line  showing  solfataric  action 2.1.43 

Little  Sespe  raining;  district,  wells  in 2.1.23 

Lohma  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Lookout  Mountain  well 1.3.18 

Loomis'wells ..     .  ..- 3.1.22 

Los  Angeles  Consolidated  Oil  Co.'s  wells 1.1.,30 

Lower  oil-yielding  formations  in  Sespe  district _  3.2.06 

Luitweiler's  well 1.1.30 

M 

Magie  oil-tunnel 2.2.17-19 

Mater  &  Zobelein  wells ..._. 1.1.30 

^Nlaier  i  Zobelein  well 1.4.03 

Maior  Moultre  tunnel  2.2.26 

Malt  man  wells 1.1.06 

Manatt,  Rich  &  Schall's  wells __.  1.1.30 

Mat  hay's  wells 1.1.30 

McCabe's  wells 1.1.30 

McGary  it  Reed's  wells.. 1.1.30 

McGary  it  "Warring's  wells 1.1.30 

Mcintosh's  well .1.L36,  i.3.19-20 

Mentone  Brownstone  Co.'s  quarry 2.1.16 

Mertin's  wells  - 1.1.30 

Metes  and  bounds  of  the  Little  Sespe  mining  district ,_   _  2.1.22 

.  of  Devil's  Gate  Oil  and  Brownstone  mining  district  2.1.32 

Moore's  wells ' 3.1.23 

More  time  necessary  to  complete  investigation  of  California  oil-fields 3.2.23 

Most  recent  Tertiary  strata  in  Sespe  district 2.1.0.5-06 

Natural  sublimation 2.2.08 

Near  River  station,  gas  and  asphaltum  struck  in  well . 1.3.21 

Nelson's  wells 1.1.30 

Newbauer's  wells 1.1.30 

North's  wells . l.l!30 

O 

Obar  well 1.3.22 

ObjectofBulletinNo.il 3.2!oi 

Occidental  wells 3.l!31 

O'Hara  (Jones)  wells . 2.1.33 

Oil  as  fuel  at  Los  Angeles 4!3!oi 

Oil  districts  northwest  of  Santa  Paula    .   ... 2.L33 

in  Los  Angeles  yet  to  be  investigated.. .     1.6.01-^5 

in  Ventura  County  yet  to  be  investigated .  2.3.03 

Oil  on  hand  in  Los  Angeles,  March  to  July,  1896 1.2.04 

Oil-springs  in  Eocene  rocks .._ ., 2!l!20 

north  of  Sisar  Creek .     \_  2.1.50 

Oil-tunnels,  Strata  penetrated  by 2.2.01 

Oil,  water,  and  gas  in,  methods  of  illuminating  and  ventilating,  method 

of  collecting  oil  in,  cost  of- 2202 

(See  Tunnels). 
Oil-wells.    (See  Wells). 

Oil-yielding  formations  exposed  at  Los  Angeles 1.1.05 

Okell  ifc  Barbar  well 1.3.23 

Oligocene  formations  in  Sespe  district 2.1.13-15 

One  pound  of  oil  compared  to  one  pound  of  coal  as  fuel 4.3.11 

Oregon  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.3.24 

O'Reilley's  wells _. _  _  LL30 

Orne  tunnel ...'....  2!2!o7 

Orne  (Parker  it  Orne)  tunnel \.l"[""V.\[.[  2!2.2S 

Orr  it  Patterson's  well .......  l!l.30 

Osborne  it  StoU's  well IV.~  \V/.i[\[V.  L1.30 

Outlook  westward  from  Second-Street  Park  oil-wells,  Los  Angeles 1.1.25 

Outlook  eastward  from  Second-Street  Park  oil-wells,  Los  Angeles 1.1.26 

Output  and  location  of  oil-tields  in  Los  Angeles  County 1.1.01 


92  INDEX. 

Part,  Chapter, 
P  and  Parat;raph. 

Pacific  Oil  Refinery  and  Supply  Co _ 1.2.01 

Pacific  Union  Oil  Co 1.1.30 

Parker's  well , 1.1.30 

Parker-Morril  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Perkins  well 1.3.25 

Petroleum  deposits  classified 3.2.10 

Petroleum  statistics  of  Los  Angeles  County  for  1895 1.4.05 

Phoenix  Oil  Co.'rfwelL. l.i.so 

Pipe-lines  of  Pacific  Oil  Refinery  and  Supply  Co .- 1.2.01 

of  Puente  Oil  Co 1.5.10 

of  Union  Oil  Co.  at  Los  Angeles 1.2.02 

of  Union  Oil  Co.  in  Ventura  County 2.3.09 

Polhemus  well  .-. 1.3.26 

Position  of  productive  wells  and  tunnels  south  of  Sulphur  Mountains 2.1.44-46 

Powells  wells ..- 1.1.30 

Practical  tests  with  oil  as  fuel  at  Los  Angeles 4.3.01-10 

Prevailing  structure  compressed  anticlinal  folds 3.2.21 

Price  of  labor  at  Los  Angeles  during  1895 4.2.08 

Primary  deposits  of  petroleum 3.2.11 

Protestant  Orphan  Asylum  well 1.4.04 

Puente  Oulch,  structural  geology  of 1.5.06-07 

Puente  Hills,  Age  of  formations  at  base  of 1.5.03 

Formations  in  higher  portions  of.. 1.5.02 

(geological  structure  of 1.5.01 

Puente  wells,  Location  of,  depth,  yield,  etc 1.5.05 

Table  showing  life  of,  yield,  etc. 1.5.08 

R 

Raymond  Oil  Co.-- - L1.30 

Reclstone  Peak  anticline 2.1.03-O4 

Refineries,  Alcatraz  Asphaltum 3  1.12 

Asphaltum  and  Oil  Co 4.1.01 

Clark,  .Johns  &  Co. : 4.1.02 

Oil-Burning  Supply  Co. 4.1.03 

Relative  position  of  oil-wells  and  oil-tunnels  on  Sulphur  Mountains 2.1.39-iO 

Remarkable  chemical  action  near  Riucon  Creek 3.1.03 

Review  of  fractional  distillations 4.4.03 

Review  of  structural  features  of  petroleum  deposits  in  oil  districts  referred  to ...    3.2.17 

Reynolds  &  Wiggins  well ._ 1.4.05 

Rex  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Rincon  asphaltum  mine 3.1.09 

Robinson's  well .     1.1.30 

Rock  exposures  in  Silverthread  oil  district  unsatisfactory 2.1.50 

Rocks  penetrated  by  oil-wells  at  Second-Street  Park,  Los  Angeles 1.1.19-20 

by  productive  oil-tunnels 2.2.01 

by  productive  oil-wells  north  of  Santa  Paula 2.3.02 

by  wells  on  south  side  of  Sulphur  Mountains 2.1.46 

Rocky  formations  at  Los  Angeles 1.1.02-04 

between  East  Los  Angeles  and  Pasadena 1.1.12 

north  of  Ruhland  and  Maltman  wells 1.1.08 

west  of  Los  Angeles. 1.1.13.14 

Rosencrantz  well - 1.4.06 

Ruhland  wells,  fossils  at 1.1.07 

S 

St.  Louis  rig - - 4.2.02 

Sand-box 3.1.27 

Salt  Marsh  wells - 2.L58 

Santa  Ynez  Mountains 3.1.07 

Santa  Monica  oil-wells - 3.1.32 

Schwartzenthal's  well 1.1.30 

Scott  A  Gillmore  wells 2.1.59 

Secondary  deposits  of  petroleum 3.2.12 

Secondary  deposits  of  petroleum  in  Santa  Barbara  County 3.2.16 

Section  across  west  end  of  Second-Street  Park  oil-field 1.1.21-22 

Sespe  district.  Position  and  topography 2.1.01-02 

Structural  geology  of.. 2.1.03-04 

Eocene  formations  in 2.1.03-04 

Oligocene  formations  in 2.1.13-15 

The  most  recent  Tertiary  formations  in 2.1.12 

Sheldon's  well - 1.1.30 

Silent'swell -.- 1.1.3U 

Silent  &  Callender's  well 1.1.30 


INDEX.  93 

Part,  Chapter, 
and  Paragraijh. 

Silverthread  oil  district 2.1.49 

Similar  geologic  horizons 2.3.02 

Sister's  Hospital  well 1.3.28 

Skinner  it  Tonkin  well 1.1.30 

Solfataric  action  on  Sulphur  Mountains .2.1.38  and  2.2.19 

near  llincon  Creek 3.1.03 

Solfataric  line  marks  fissure  or  fault 2.1.44 

Southern  California  Oil  Co. 's  well 1.1.30 

Specilic  gravity  of  oil  increases  with  depth  at  Los  Angeles  wells 1.1.20 

Springs  of  warm  water  and  oil 2.1.19 

Standard  rig 4.2.04 

Starrig... 4.2.03 

Statistical  report  of  Summerland  oil-wells  for  1895 3.1.33 

Sterling  it  Co. 's  well 1.1.30 

Stevens  it  Robert's  wells 3.1.24 

Stillman,  Professor  II.,  experiments  by 4.3.13 

Strata  penetrated  by  well  of  California  Oil  Co 2.1.30 

toy  Farrell  it  Kimball  tunnels 2.2.20 

by  Magie  tunnels 2.2.15 

Straus' well 1.1.30 

Strike  of  oil-line  at  Los  Angeles 1.1.25 

Structure  of  east  end  of  Sulphur  Mountains  ...   2.1.37 

of  mountains  northeast  of  Silverthread  district 2.1.34 

of  oil-tields  northwest  of  Santa  Paula . 2.1.38 

Sulphur  Mountains    2.1.36 

Summerland  oil-field 3.1.14 

Sunset  Oil  Co.'s  well 1.1.30 

Suskin's  well...  1.1.30 


Tankage  at  Los  Angeles 1.2.07 

Temescal  Caflon 1.1.15 

Thompson's  well 1.1.30 

Thompson  Bros.' well 1.3.27 

Tomlinson's  well ..  _  1.1.30 

Torrey  Canon  wells 2.3.07 

Tubbs'  wells 1.1.30 

Tunnels,  Adams'  2.1.30 

Adams  Canon 2.2.25 

Farrell  &  Kimball's 2.2.20 

Good's 2.2.11-13 

Good  it  Irwin's 2.2.10 

In  middle  fork  of  Salt  Marsh  Canon 2.2.24 

In  Wheeler  Canon 2.2.27 

Jefferson's 2.2.05 

Magie 2.2.15^18 

INIajor  Moultre's ,.  2.2.26 

Pinkerton's ..   2.2.03-04 

Northeast  of  Orne  tunnel . 2.2.09 

Northwest  of  Jefferson 2.2.06 

Turner  Bros.'  wells - 1.1.30 

U 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  wells  at  Second-Street  Park 1.1.30 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  well  west  of  Second-Street  Park 1.3.29 

United  States  Hotel  well 1.4.07 

V 

Valleys  frequently  coincide  with  axes  of  folds _ 2.1.38 

Ventura  Asphalt  Co.'s  mine 3.1.02 

Villa  Tract  wells 1.3.30 

W 

Walker,  Rust  it  Hunt's  wells.. 1.1.30 

Weldon  asphalt  mine... "  3,l!oi 

W^ells,  Adams  Canon  ... '_  '  2!l23 

Alameda  and  Santa  Barbara  Development  Co.'s... I..  3!l!l5 

Aliso  Canon ^  2]l.57 

Backus  it  Craven's sil.lB 

Bardsdale __.  2!3!o4 

Bard's l..."^".!"!.'  2!l52 


94  INDEX. 

I'art.  Chapter, 
and  Paragraph. 

Wells,  Between  La  Hrea  ranch  and  La  Cienega 1.3.17 

Bluett  .V;  Mullen's 2.6.01 

California  Oil  Co.'s... - 2.1.:{0-31 

Capital  Crude  Oil  Co.'s - 2.1.53 

Central  Oil  Co.'s -  1.6.02 

Close  together,  but  yield  dissimilar 2.3.02 

Cole's - 3.1.17 

Dewlaney's 3.1.18 

Doulton  &  Wilson's --  3.1.19 

Elsmere  Cafion... 1.6.03 

Eureka  Oil  Co.'s 2.3.06 

Fischer's    3.1.20 

Forrester  it  Treadwell's 3.1.21 

Fortuna — - 2.3.06 

Four  Forks - - 2.1.25 

Grayham's --- ---  2.1.64 

Jones  (O'Hara's) - 2.1.37  and  2.1.61 

Kentuck - 2.1.28-29 

Loomis - - 3.1.22 

Maltnian's 1.1.06 

Moore's - - - 3.1.23 

Pacific  Coast  Oil  Co.'s  (Pico  Cafion) 1.6.03 

Puente  Oil  Co.'s  .- - - - 2.3.05 

Salt  Marsh --- 2.1.58 

Scott  &  Gillmore 21.59 

Second-Street  Park,  Los  Angeles  (classified  list) 1.1,30 

Stevens  .t  Roberts...  3.1.24 

TarCreek  .   . - -- 2.1.24 

Torrey  Canon - - 2.3.07 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  (Silverthread  district) 2.1.54 

Union  Oil  Co.'s  (north  of  Whittier) 1.6.04 

Wheeler  Cafion -- 2.1.60 

Wiggins  (Reynolds  (t  Wiggins) 1.4.05 

Wylie  Canon - 1-6.03 

Williams' -.- -  — - 3-1-25 

Wilmot  &  Holden's .- 13.31 

Wilshire'  s.. - 1.3.32 

Wing's -- - 11-30 

Wylie's.. --- 11-30 

Y 

Yield,  Daily,  of  Los  Angeles  oil-wells  during  1895 1-2.03 

Of  oil-tunnels  dissimilar 2.3.01 

Total,  of  wells  in  Los  Angeles  County  for  1895 Ll.Ol  and  1.4.05 

Total,  of  wells  and  tunnels  in  Ventura  County  for  1895 2.3.0.S 

Total,  of  wells  at  Summerland,  for  1895 3.1.33 


^EST  tas  Anceles. 

J^^l      ^LIFORNIA^TATE  y^lNIING^fREAU 

J.J.VPAWFOBD.  State  Mineralooist. 
Prepared   by  W.  L  Watt*.  ffelA  Assisfarxh, 


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^LiFORNiA  State  Twining  Bureau 

J.J.Crawford.    State  Mineralogist 
PreparecV  by  W.  L.WATTS.frelA  A<,^iyanN 

Pviri(i^l5'55-I596.  _ 


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THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.00  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


JUL  12  198 


b 


JU[t\l  2  1985 
SeK^  1985  REC 

f 


loJ 


RECEIVED 

#.'oy  2  *-  iflsfl 

PfsysciLIBRARy 

JUN  2  is  2008 


APR  0  3  1989 
JUN16  1S89 

JAN  04 1990 

NOV  28  1369 


fca 


(B  »  •« 


Book  Slip-25m'7,'53(A899ea4)4S8 


/ 


California.    Dept,   of 
natural  resources.    Di- 
vision of  mines. 


C'^^'^"^Orri'\dc 


PHYStC-'^l 

SCIE?v. 

UBRAH) 


Call  Number: 

TK2U 
G3 
A3 
no.  11 

.    i  '4  ' 

A3 


tIBRART 

l^nVERSITY  OF  CAUFQ«»» 

DAVIS 

169827 


